HISTORICAL NOTES 



nxnt Mmnm ffartjslj 

HYDE PARK-ON-HUDSON. 
NEW YORK 



1913 




Class 






PRESENTliJ) BY 



•ci- 



>. r' 



'■i 



: rr 



W: 



^^ V 



/' / 



' ^v ^y 



}2 : 







HISTORICAL NOTES 



OF 



HYDE PARK-ON-HUDSON 
NEVr YORK 



<^ 



IN COMMEMORATION OF THE BELATED 

CENTENARY ANNIVERSARY 

OF THE 

CONSECRATION OF THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH 

OCTOBER, 10, 1811 



PRIVATELY PUBLISHED 



The a. V. Haight Company 

POCGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 

1913 






g:j. 

Authct. 
JUL >3 I8ii 



i 



b> 



FOREWORD 

SO very many persons have willingly aided in this com- 
pilation that it seems best to omit all names of those 
to whom our thanks are due, except those of Dr. 
Ashton, who prepared most of the historical sketch of the par- 
ish in anticipation of the Centenary, and of Mrs. George 
Crapser Briggs, who served many hours as amanuensis. 

Also as this booklet is but a compilation for the preserving 
in convenient form of historical data of interest, sources of 
such data have been freely drawn upon without acknowledg- 
ment, or the use of quotation marks. 

E. P. Newton. 
Hyde Park 

February, 1913. 




''5fe*^^ 











HISTORICAL NOTES OF SAINT 
JAMES PARISH 

HYDE PARK-ON-HUDSON NEW YORK 



FOR its first foundation the parish is indebted to the 
zeal and liberaHty of Samuel Bard, M.D., LL.D., Presi- 
dent of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New 
York City, seconded by the efforts of General ^Morgan Lewis, 
sometime Governor of the State, and a son of Francis Lewis, 
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, with 
the cooperation of Judge Nathaniel Pendleton, of Judge 
John Johnston, and others. Dr. Bard's biographer says: "In 
the year 1811, circumstances favoring its establishment, the 
church of Saint James at Hyde Park was erected, of which 
Dr. Bard was the founder, a term of distinction, not perhaps, 
strictly applicable, but morally just, as being the individual 
to whose unwearied exertions, and superior liberality, its suc- 
cess is to be attributed." Of his gifts for this enterprise he 
was wont to say "No equal expenditure of money has ever 
yielded me so large an interest." 



4 



Historical N ote s of 



The names of the contributors to the building fund are 
herewith given. 

SUBSCRIPTION LIST 

(See plates following page 16 for reproduction of original paper.) 
THE NAMES HAVE BEEN KEORDERED ALPHABETICALLY 

We, the Subscribers, promise to contribute towards Building 
an Episcopal Church at Hyde Park, in Duchess County, the 
sums of money, services, etc., annexed to our names. 



Ames, Henry- 
Bard, William 
Bard, Samuel 
Bard, Sarah 

Barton, Sarah (de Normandie) 
Aunt to Mrs. Samuel Bard 
Brahman, Cyrus 
Broome, William 
Bush, Jacob 
Cruger, Henry 
De Cantillon, Richard 
De Cantillon, Tobias 
Duer, William, Alexander 
Dutton, Titus 

Gillespie, George de Normandie 
Gillies, David G. 
Hedding, Samuel 
Hughes, Christopher, 2d 
Hutchins, Baron Steuben 
Hyde, Christopher 
Hyde, Lemuel 
Johnston, John 
Lewis, Morgan* 
Livingston, James Duane 

These persons contributed a sum total of $2,576.75, which 
left a deficit of about $125.00 on the bills for construction. 
This was promptly raised and the building was clear of in- 
cumbrance, ready for Consecration. 

The first building was of brick and stone, stuccoed and paint- 
ed yellow, with a short square battlemented tower at the west 

*General Lewis, in addition to his cash subscription conveyed the title 
to a pew in old Saint Pauls Church, New York. 



McClelland, Alexander 

McVickar, John 

Mead, Samuel 

Muirson, Magdalena (Bard) 

Sister to Dr. Samuel Bard 
Mulford, David 
Pendleton, Nathaniel 
Phillips, Andrew 
Post, Jotham 
Progue, George 
Ring, Louis 
Robinson, Samuel 
Russell, Isaac 
Rymph, John 
Selkrigg, John 
Sherrill, Hunting 
Spencer, Reuben 
Stevenson, Timothy 
Stoutenburgh, Isaac 
Stoutenburgh, Tobias L. 
Whiley, R. 
Wickes, Silas 
Wright, L. 




((>.\Si;( |{ AI'KI) MA\ Jit. IMI. ASSISIANI' ■|'( t IIII. I'-I-IKH' (H 



S. James Church 5 

end. The walls within were whitewashed, and there were 
three windows on either side of the church, filled with small 
diamond panes of clear glass, no stained glass having been 
used in this old building. Two of these windows remain in the 
present church near the door. There was one aisle, six feet 
wide, marbled in blocks. Sometime later through the influence 
of Dr. Hosack, who bought "Hyde Park" in 1826, the pews 
were rearranged and two aisles made, which is shown in our 
cut, reproducing a paper dated 1837.* The chancel was one 
step higher than the floor, and was furnished, after the manner 
of that day, now happily forgotten except by some older mem- 
bers of this generation, with "the triple decker," a high pulpit 
reached by stairways on either side, a reading desk in front 
below it on the second level, and still below, the communion 
table. The kneeling cushions, hangings and altar cloth were 
all of crimson damask. The west end organ loft, where was a 
small melodeon loaned by Miss Johnston, who herself volun- 
teered to serve as organist, was reached by a stairway from the 
vestibule to the tower. 

The church was heated by two wood stoves at either end of 
the building, the pipes of which ran into huge drums supported 
on iron rods fastened upon the tops of the pews. 

Such is the quaint picture of Saint James Church as it stood 
when consecrated, and as it appears in our photograph taken 
years later with the changes of time apparent in the growth 
of trees and other features of the surroundings. 

On Thursday, October 10, 1811, t TheRt. Rev. John Henry 
Hobart, D.D., Bishop of New York, consecrated the church 

♦See among plates following page 16. 

fXoTE — On assuming duty as Rector of the parish I read 
the article in the Poughkeepsie Courier of October 8, 19 H, 
which states that the Consecration took place on Oct. H, 1811, 
and Dr. McVickar's Ordination on the 13. This statement, 
I learn, was based on some notes of 1870, or thereabouts, and I 
accepted it as fact, and the Anniversary was observed on those 
dates October H, and 13, 19H — happily so observed as it gave 
a Saturday and Sunday for the celebration. Delving over 
parish archives in preparation for this book. Bishop Hobart's 
letter of Consecration, which follows, was brought to light 
and the first intimation of an error gained. 



=6 Historical Notes of 

building, and upon the following day, Friday, the eleventh, he 
Ordered Deacon, in the new church, John McVickar, son-in- 
law of Dr. Bard, who became the first minister of the congrega- 
tion. His salary of two hundred and fifty dollars was appar- 
ently paid in a lump sum on January first. 

"Be it known that I, John Henry Hobart, D.D., Bishop 
Assistant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the State 
of New York, have, on this tenth day of October, in the 
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eleven, 
duly consecrated a building erected at Hyde Park, in the 
town of Clinton and County of Dutchess, by the name of 
S. James Church; separating it henceforth from all un- 
hallowed, ordinary and common uses, and dedicating it to 
the service of Almighty God, for reading His holy word, 
for celebrating His holy sacraments, for offering to His 
glorious majesty the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving, 
for blessing the people in His name, and for the perform- 
ance of all other holy offices; according to the use of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
America. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunder subscribed my hand 
tliis 10th day of October, in the year of our Lord, one 
thousand eight hundred and eleven." 

John Henry Hobart, 
Bishop Assistant of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
in the State of New York. 



The following contemporary evidence from The Church- 
man's Magazine for October, 1811, p 337, confirms the letter: 

"On Thursday, the tenth of October, the Church lately erect- 
ed at Hyde-Park, near Poughkeepsie, the residence of Dr. Sam- 
uel Bard, was consecrated by the name of Saint James Church. 
The service of consecration was performed by the Right Rev. 
Bishop Hobart; after which morning prayer was read by the 
Rev. Mr. Prentis, of Athens, and a sermon preached by the 
Rev. Mr. Reed, of Poughkeepsie. This Church is a stone 
edifice, fifty by thirty feet on the inside; it is unusually neat 
and simple in its appearance, and does great credit to the taste 
and zeal of the families at whose expense it has been erected. 
The succeeding day, October eleventh, there was divine ser- 



/A ^ / Ay.:^^.*y^ ^^.v,</. ^^Z--;.- /'.v.-^ 



•A> /^' • '«==^"-^»'V^"C^*' ^■^0-'.-.v<c,,-^- ,^ 






■ .■'c.v ^--i^v />;. .^•'^^.• 



c t <^ , 



v*. 



♦. v« -^/T".-- . 'y - cx- .'.\;,,. y ./^< >, jy-.,^ <^.: -6! 






I- \< -iMii.K oi' iMsiioi" ii(»ir\i{Ts T,i;'iri;K <»i ( (».\>i;( i{ \ i mx. 



S. J a VI e .s ( h u r c h 7 

Prior to this time those who fornu-d the new eon<^re«i;ation 
were eoniiminicunts in ohi Christ Church, rou<,'hkeepsie, and 
at the date of its orpmization it was the only parish on the 
east hank of the Hudson for a considerable distance above 
Poughkeepsie. There were sixteen resident communicants 
before the establishment of the j)arish, to wit: 

Saimu'l Banl Mary (Bunl) Bard 

John Joliiistou Magdak'iia (Bard) Muirson 

William Bard Catharine (Crugor) Banl 

Patrick Macartney Susan (Bard) Pendleton 

Sarah (de Norniandie) Barton Nancy (Bard) Pierce 

Susan (Bard) Johnston Betsy Macartney 

Sarah Bard Gertrude (Livinf^stou) Lewis 

Eliza (Bard) McVickar Margaret (Lewis) Livingston 

These formed a considerable nucleus for the development 
of parochial life. 

On Wednesday, September 7, 1814, Bishop Hobart, Insti- 
tuted as Rector, the Rev. John McVickar, and confirmed twen- 
ty-eight persons. In 1817 thirty-one were confirmed, and in 
1819 thirty-three, so increasing the roll of communicants in 
the parish. Parochial growth was steady and wholesome. 

The first steps were taken before any formal parochial or- 
ganization was made. Upon Easter Monday, March 30, 
1812, the first official meeting of the congregation was held, 
when "It was unanimously resolved that Saint James Church 
at Hyde Park should be the name by which the said church or 
Congregation should in future be known in law". The ques- 
tion has sometimes been raised whether the dedication were to 
Saint James, the son of Zebedee, or to Saint James the Less; 
whether the artist who designed the chancel window, and gave 
to the figured saint a club, which is the symbol of the latter, 

vice and a sermon in the Church, and an ordination, when Mr. 
John Mc\'ickar. jun., was admitted by the Bishop to the holy 
order of Deacons." 

In the "Life of John McVickar" the error in the date of the 
consecration is also fonnd, and to this source may possibly be 
traced the mistake of 1870. which we unwittingly continued. 

E. P. Newton. 



8 Historical Notes of 

did so under instruction or of his own artistic choice. The 
following statement seems conclusive "He (Dr. Bard) looked 
upon Christianity as a living fountain of good works, and se- 
lected the name of Saint James for that of the church he found- 
ed, in reference to the great practical principle that Evange- 
list lays down, that 'faith without words is dead'." 

At this meeting the following persons were unanimously 
elected as Church Wardens and Vestrymen. 

Samuel Bard ] „, , 
- , T f Wardens 

Morgan Lewis J 

John Johnston 

Nathaniel Pendleton 

William Broome 

William Bard i v t 

Christopher Hughes, 2d ^ 

James Duane Livingston 

Titus Dutton 

William Alexander Duer 

The parish was admitted into union with the Convention of 
the Diocese of New York on October 6, 1812; Dr. Samuel 
Bard and Nathaniel Pendleton being its first lay delegates. 

Dr. McVickar resigned November 10, 1817, to accept a 
Professorship in Columbia College. 

On June 5, 1818, the Rev. David Brown was elected to suc- 
ceed Dr. McVickar as rector. He was instituted October 14, 
1819, and resigned in February 1823. In 1820 the flagon, 
chalice and patten, which are still in use for the Holy Commu- 
nion, were presented by the women of the parish, and in 1826 
the congregation gave the silver alms basin. 

On February 2, 1824, the Rev. Samuel Roosevelt Johnson, 
then a deacon, was elected to minister to the congregation, and 
by this act of its vestry Saint James became the first parish 
of one of the saints of the American Church. He was ordained 
priest by Bishop Hobart in Saint James Church, August 1, 
1827, and thereupon became rector. He resigned the rector- 
ship on October 10, 1833. 



S. J a m e s C h u r ch 9 

The first Sunday school records whicli have been preserved 
are of this period, and show an interest and activity which may 
well quicken the spirit of emulation in parishioners today. 
(See A])pendix.) 

The following account of the Sunday school is given during 
those years of Dr. Johnson's administration: 

"The Sunday school was kept from May to November, com- 
mencing at 3 p. m., continuing until 5 p. m., when it was fol- 
lowed by the afternoon service and sermon." 

About this time Dr. Hosack presented to the church a silver 
baptismal bowl, which it was the custom to stand upon the 
altar rail. When a marble font was presented to the church 
in 1840, this silver bowl was converted into a second chalice 
to correspond with the one given in 18^20. 

About the year 1832, Dr. Johnson caused a school house to 
be erected in the village, about three-fourths of a mile from the 
parish church, and in April, 1834, he presented the building and 
the lot on which it stood to the parish, and this, as we shall 
see, became the site of the present chapel. Miss Susan Mary 
Bard, who died in 1831, left in trust two thousand dollars, the 
interest of which was to be paid to the rector towards the 
maintenance of an infant school which was held here for many 
years. 

In June, 1835, the first rectory of S. James was built, ad- 
joining the church. 

Dr. McVickar made his home on his private estate on tiie 
river bank, having })uilt a home for his bride, Eliza Bard, which 
was styled "Inwood" (now the home of Hon. F. G. Landon, 
which he has called "Mansewood" in commemoration of the 
fact that it was the residence of the first rector). Later he 
occupied a cottage opposite the church. 

Dr. Brown, during his rectorship, was also a professor at 
Dr. Benjamin Allen's Classical School, which stood south of 
the village, on ground now owned by Mr. Archibald Rogers, and 
made his home there. 

Dr. Johnson lived at Red House, which was built by Dr. 
John Bard, father of Samuel, and stood in the meadow just 
north of the church. Tliis house was recently torn down. 



10 Historical Notes oj 

The rectory was built for the Rev. Reuben Sherwood, D.D., 
who entered upon his duties as rector on Easter Sunday, 1835, 
and remained in that office until his death, Whitsunday, 1856. 
It stood north of and facing the church, with the gable end 
towards Albany avenue, or Broadway. 

In 1839 Judge John Johnston gave the parish a folio edition 
of the Prayer Book "Printed by Hugh Gaine, at the Bible, 
Hanover Square, by direction of the General Convention of 
1789"; and a folio Lectern Bible which has been in use until 
the present date, and from it future rectors, yet unborn, may 
read in years to come, as it shows today very few signs of age. 

The Prayer Book is brought out and used on notable occa- 
sions. 

In 1840 the parish received a gift of the marble font which 
bears the inscription, "The Eighth National Guard of the 
City of New York, H. C. Shumway, Commanding, to the Con- 
gregation of Saint James Church, Hyde Park, in Commemora- 
tion of their visit July 4th, 1840", and in notes to a sermon 
preached from 1 Tim. 6:12, by Dr. Sherwood before the com- 
pany on Sunday, July 5, is found the statement "Mr. R. E. 
Launitz, the artist, preceded with the font one day the com- 
pany, and with a zeal surpassed only by his skill set it himself 
in its present place." In the archives of the parish is preserved 
this letter: 

New York, June 30th, 1840. 

To the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of 
S. James Church, Hyde Park. 

Gentlemen: The members of the 8th National Guard of 
this city, ever mindful of past favors, and who are as ready to 
give as they are to receive, have unanimously agreed to pre- 
sent, through you, to the congregation of S. James Church a 
Baptismal Font, as a slight testimonial of their esteem for the 
inhabitants of your place generally, and in commemoration of 
their third visit to your hospitable town, on the anniversary 
of our nation's birthday. The undersigned therefore, being 







THE OLD RECTORY, 




SAINT MARGARETS Clll R( II, STAATSIR RMI. 



S. J a me s C Ii u r c h 11 

constituted ii committee, on beluilf of the company, to carry 
out their design, respectfully tender to your congregation the 
accompanying Baptismal Font to be placed in S. James 
Church, Hyde Park, and ask your acceptance of the same. 

Yours respectfully, 

H. C. Shumway 
John 0km lnd 
AVm. a. Darling 
Henry Beers 
Horatio N. Squire 
RoBT. E. Launitz 
P. Crerar 

Mr. B. B. Dobl)s remembers as a boy attending a target 
contest during the encampment, and seeing Dr. Sherwood 
present to the winner a new musket. 

Colonel Daniel Appleton in a letter dated New York, No- 
vember 20, Idhl, states that "Company H, or the Eighth 
Company (7th Regiment N. G. N. Y.) has had a continuous 
existence since 18'-26, and became the Eighth Company when 
mustered in the "ilih Regiment now the Seventh". From the 
records of the 7th Regiment he quotes: "In 1837 the Eighth 
Company visited Hyde Park on July 15 and spent a pleas- 
ant week in that delightful locality. During that time it 
visited Poughkeepsie by invitation, and was hospitably enter- 
tained by the military and citizens of that place; and in 1840 
on the afternoon of July 4, the Eighth Company visited Hyde 
Park for pleasure and military improvement. Willi a daily 
drill, occasional target practice, rides and rambles through the 
surrounding country, and an interchange of hosj)italities with 
the people of the vicinity, the week passed pleasantly at Hyde 
Park. The company presented to the church at that place 
an elegant marble font, as a token of its ajjpreciation of the 
uniform kindness wliicli the ])eople of that delightful locality 
had extended to its ofiicers and meml)ers on this and on for- 
mer occasions." 

In 1843 it was found tli;il the cliurch needeil a new roof and 



12 Historical Notes of 

other repairs. Upon examination, it was discovered that the 
walls were unsafe, and a committee, appointed to report, ad- 
vised taking the building down and erecting a new one. 

Therefore, a new and enlarged church was built on the site 
of the old one in 1844, half of the expense being borne by Mr. 
Augustus Thomas Cowman, who therefore, at this time, ser- 
ved the parish much as Dr. Bard did at its founding, with de- 
voted zeal and liberality, personally superintending the work. 
Mr. Cowman made a trip to Europe, which was not the simple 
matter in 1843 that it is today, to study church architecture 
in preparation for the contemplated work. 

During the process of building, services were held in the 
rectory. 

It was at this time (1844) that the Gothic revival was at 
its height in this country, and the black walnut ceiling with 
open timbered roof, is one of the finest specimens extant of 
that work in America. 

Mrs. Curtis gave two stained glass windows, not memorials, 
at the time of this rebuilding, and the plain red, yellow and 
purple stained glass, which was used for the other windows, 
was some left over from the windows of the Church of the As- 
cension, New York city, and was given by that church to S. 
James. Two of these now remain, the others having been 
displaced by memorial windows. 

The new edifice, barring some of its furnishings and deco- 
rations, was completed as we see it today, and services held 
in it the last of November, 1844. It was said at this time 
that there were twenty more families in the parish than the 
church could hold. It was consecrated by Bishop DeLan- 
cey, of Western New York, on the Feast of Saint Michael 
and All Angels, September 29, 1846. 

The striking feature of Dr. Sherwood's rectorhip is the mis- 
sionary spirit. It was manifested in the organization of the 
church of the Holy Apostles, Clinton, ten miles northeast of 
Hyde Park, and his labours there brought into the ministry 
of the Church the Rev. Albert D. Traver, who was successively 
Assistant Minister in All Saints Church, New York; Mission- 
ary at Esopus, Ulster County; and at Clinton, Duchess Coun- 




INTKRIOK OK S. .lAMKS ( lirK< II. 1-tH. 



S. J a m e s Church 13 

ty, and from 1846 to 186C a devoted and I)eloved Rector of 
S. Pauls Church, Poughkeepsic. Dr. Sherwood also conduct- 
ed evening services in Staatsburgh, four miles north of Hyde 
Park, in the home of Isaac Russell, the postmaster. Later the 
waiting-room of the railway station was used. 

In I808 the frame chapel in Staatsburg, originally used by 
any body of Christians, was built through the liberality of 
Mrs. Margaret (Lewis) Livingston, and others. 

On Thursday, February 10, 1848, by invitation of Dr. Sher- 
wood, there met in the old rectory seven of the clergy, who "did 
then and there, taking into consideration the state of the 
Church in Duchess County, resolve themselves into a meeting 
for extending the influence of the Church", and the Archdea- 
conry of Duchess was born. 

The Rev. Horace Stringfcllow succeeded Dr. Sherwood in 
1856. His rectorship covered a period of less than four years; 
but in that time Saint James Chapel was built on the school 
lot given by Dr. Johnson, adjoining the school building. One 
writes: "I remember that my mother was much interested in 
the Chapel in Hyde Park to which she regularly walked every 
Sunday afternoon, with her three children ahead of her, and 
this after attending the morning service at the church. Those 
were good old days, when the Sundays were not kept as they 
are now, and I look back on them with affection." 

The school building became a Sunday school and guild 
room, and a free reading room, in which is quartered a circula- 
ting library free to all village folk. The reading room was sup- 
ported for many years by Mr. Walter Langdon, Jr., and is now 
maintained by Mrs. Frederick W. Vanderbilt, wliile the library 
has Mrs. James Roosevelt for its patron. 

On August 1, 1860, the Rev. James S. Purdy, D.D., became 
rector. His first wife was Miss Susan Bard Johnson, the 
daughter of a former rector, connected by blood with the early 
families, which made the choice doubly a happy one. He re- 
signed September 30, 1876, because of ill health. In 1871 the 
stone font was set up in the chapel, and in 1874 the brass eagle 
lectern was given to the church and, presumably, also at this 
time the white marble altar, gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Walter 



14 Historical Notes of 

Langdon, Jr., who also bore the expense of redecorating the 
church, and recarpeted church and vestry room on the occasion 
of the wedding of a niece Miss Emily A.Kane to Augustus Jay, 
October 3, 1876. One volume of vestry records has been lost 
which makes accurate statement difficult. It is interesting to 
note that the carpets served for thirty-six years, until Mr. and 
Mrs. Archibald Rogers laid new ones for the wedding of a 
daughter Miss Ellen Habersham Rogers to Kenneth Baker 
Schley, June 8, 1912. 

Another item of interest is the following note from vestry 
records of April 14, 1896 "Thanks of the Vestry were extended 
totheRev. Dr. Greerforhisdonation of hassocksforthe church." 
S. Bartholomews was doubtless getting new ones. They are 
still in use and serviceable. 

The Rev. Philander Kinney Cady followed Dr. Purdy, 
having been instituted as rector October 1, 1876, and serving 
the parish until 1887. 

The work in Staatsburgh having grown, it became necessary 
to have a curate in charge thereof, and the Rev. Charles Lancas- 
ter Short was the first, serving from June, 1876, to June, 1880. 
He was followed by the Rev. Francis J. Clayton, July, 1880, 
until December, 1881, when the Rev. George W. Sinclair Ayres 
(now Archdeacon of Buffalo), took up the work on January 1, 
1882, continuing therein until January, 1884. It was during 
Mr. Ayres' ministry that the mission was organized as a parish 
on April 15, 1882, and called Saint Margarets Church. 

The frame chapel built in 1858 was consecrated April 24, 
1882, by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., Bishop of the 
Diocese, Dr. Cady preaching the sermon; and the parish was 
admitted into union with the Diocesan Convention in Septem- 
ber of that year. 

The rectors of this flourishing daughter of Saint James have 
been. 

The Rev. Thomas Lafayette Cole, 1884-89 and 1898-1902. 

The Rev. Pierre McDonald Bleecker, 1889-1897. 

The Rev. Charles Henry Duncan, 1902, and still incumbent. 

The cornerstone of the new stone church was laid by the 
Rt. Rev. Henry Codman Potter, D.D., on May 27, 1891; and 




/^ 







— / t 



S. James Church 15 

the frame })uilclinfj; lias ])een converted into a reading room for 
general use of the village. The new church was consecrated 
October 4, 1898, by Bishop Potter. 

During Dr. Cady's rectorate the beautiful Lych Gate, 
copied from one at Saint Marys Church near Torquay, England, 
was erected attheentrance to the grounds of Saint JamesChapel. 

In 1885 organs were given by Mr. Walter Langdon for both 
chapel and church, the latter being in memory of his wife, 
Catherine Livingston. 

In 1887 the Rev. Richmond Herbert Gesner became rector 
and after a ministry of three years he was succeeded by the 
Rev. Amos Turner Ashton, who remained in office from August 
2, 1891, till the time of his death, Epiphany, 1911. 

The "old rectory," as it is always familiarly called, was in 
such serious condition at the time of Dr. Ashton's election, 
that the new rector took up his residence in the Livingston 
house on Park Place — a fine old colonial house with extensive 
grounds. 

This house was bought chiefly through the generosity of 
Messrs. Archibald Rogers and Elbridge T. Gerry, vestrymen, 
in 1895, and is the present rectory, the old one having been torn 
down in April, 1893. 

In 1894 cellars were dug under both chapel and reading room 
proper foundations laid, and the property generally renovated 
at considerable expense. Dr. Ashton took an active part in 
missionary and diocesan affairs, so that the influence of his 
ability and character were far reaching. No mention has 
been made of the good done by the wives and families of the 
rectors, and yet the part played in the homes of the village 
in kind ministry of cheer and comfort and help of such women 
as Mrs. Ashton, Miss Purdy, the second Mrs Purdy, Miss 
Sherwood and others has been a large factor in parish life 

SOME STATISTICS 

from October, 1811, to October, 1911. 

Baptisms 1605 

Confirmations 749 

Marriages 189 

Burials 944 



16 Historical Notes of 

The first Baptism is that of Sarah Barton,* infant daughter 
of John de Normandie and Susan Maria (Bedford) Gillespie. 

Among the early records it is interesting to note the number 
of slaves baptized, most of the old families in 1811 and the 
following years owning slaves, and their emancipation coming 
gradually.! These freedmen have all moved away. 

It is exceedingly diflBcult to gauge spiritual forces. How 
great a part the church, its ministries and Sacraments played 
in the moulding of life and character during the hundred years 
past, and what influence those lives and characters exerted in 
the affairs of town, and county, and state and nation we 
may not specifically and confidently affirm, but our confidence 
that they were manifold and great is none the less sure. It 
would be an interesting study to follow the lives of those bap- 
tized and given Christian nurture in Saint James parish, and 
to note their fruits. This work the angels of God have done, 
and we must rest in the hope of knowing something of it after 
death. 

*Slie was an elder sister of the Rt. Rev. George de Norman- 
die Gillespie, the first Bishop of the diocese of Western Michi- 
gan. The Bard and de Normandie families in the genera- 
tion of the parents of Dr. Samuel and Mrs. Bard were doubly 
related a brother and sister marrying sister and brother. The 
babe was named for a great-great aunt Sarah de Normandie 
who married the Rev. Mr. Barton, who in later life lived with 
Dr. Bard. She married Oswald Cammann of New York. 

fNoTE — In looking up the question of slavery in the State 
of New York I find that slaves were recognized by law in New 
Y'^ork in 1656, and that along about the time of the Revolution 
societies were formed for the purpose of improving the con- 
dition of the slaves. New York had such a society, with John 
Jay as its first president, and Alexander Hamilton was its sec- 
ond president. These societies succeeded in suppressing the 
slave trade from 1808, but New York had started a gradual 
abolition of slavery as early as 1799. 

Prior to 1678 there were very few slaves in the State of New 
York. In 1698 there were 293, in Kings County alone. In 
1723 there were 6,171; in 1790 there were 21,324, from which 
time they commenced to decrease. In 1820 there were only 
10,088; in 1830—75; in 1840—4. 

Edward H. Wales. 




S. JAMES RECTORY, from the street. 




S. .IAMi:> Ki:( ■|()H\. finiM tlir (;;ir(leii. 




rill-: ( iiAi'Ki. IX siAA'isMri{(,ii 




llli: INTERIOR IIIKHKOF. 







i 


** 


i 


---TTTTT^ 


% -^ V ^ ■ "i;' < S.S 




J 


^.5 I^H si'^' ^ ■« V- 




1 

1 


■-•'|>-^^-c ^ t 'ii.. 




.: 






N 1 


^. V 




" i 








• ■ • 'o ^^ ■ 






"! ^ ^ 


« . 










r- • • •^ £ a ■ 






■ "J ^ 1 S ;; 






' \. •• > 










•;■ 




>*■ ^ V. <J^t , i v^ - $ '^ S 


^ 




..^ ii 2 * ,'. 5^% ^-^ X " 






^ 4-: .. ^ • •■ •■ ^ ■ > 






c^ l^ ■ 






"V 









3 



^ s 









fx^ 



.•* 1 



.. -" ^ ^ ^^^ 






■^'^^: 



^5 -^ ^ ^ >.-^-:^^. 



'i V 






FAc-siMii.K OK rill. i)i;i:i) ro riii: land 

I'niiii Saiinirl ;iiic| M;ii\ Hani. 



IJ'i ■!«,'. 






v^ 















I".\( -SIMII.i; ()| Till; ()|{|(.I\M. SI H>( KII'lloN I'.M'Kii. 

Pi........ ...I ;.. 1 I... i>.. ..: I. 1 .. I ■ 



l'i<MT\ cii in tlic I'Mii^h Arcliivcs. 






% /o^rn ". ttfio-^ i/^ 



! //^;.-.. ,, " . . _ . ^ SIC 



>^^ 









■/' 









..-.-V 









A 



-'£:Cj>S^^' 'f^' 






■r^ 



■J? 



,? A^^ 

/ - 



/^.n^ -^ 



^. 






■^■'^^-- -.«^^ 



7' 



^^^, 



.v.^ <^^i/y/,r /^/y/.., ' 



/ 



FAC-SIMll.K Ol' llli; (tKK.lN AI. SI |{S( 1{| P IK ).\ |'AI'i:i{ 
l'r<'scr\c(l ill t lie l';iri>li Aicliivcs. 






t7 






./IM^Tiiri^ck }iii= 



% TnfUht tja- 



rf/hk.JtL3iu-,i/t: 



^'fL J(rUtaU Hb- 



VilUitij^l^ '^iuaiiijli- 



- ^DiJi^uL^ M-- 









4 'JC%i,.A ^^-j: 






[ 



ke £. 



l /U.T/l WtfOMd^ma: 



tnu^ ?, J/k^<U-jk msl 



.^ /jiji 



'^trtJ.»A',:.ti 4f= 



^7%U4r^ ^fij^ 



'f- /JtiCL/CiL Md~ 



MBA 






\ 



\ 



TScOF 



5 ' hUkdiu^l Ht = |] 









y/fiduSi^si/i^T - 






JnZ^t^*^ 



4i 



t; 



CT 



JlntJu^ /S^'jk)^ 



I 



2^fvf 



-J i7';< ' 



/6 



3V*.:. 



/.Vxi 



/-T 



1 LOOK I'l.W Ol' > .lAMKS ( III l{( II. \w.\-, 



S. James Church 17 



THE RECTORS 

1. The Reverend John McVickar, D.D. 1811 to 1817. 
^2. The Reverend David Brown. 1818 to 1823. 

3. The Reverend Samuel Roosevelt Johnson, D.D. 18'24' 
to 1833. 

4. The Reverend Reuben Sherwood, D.D. 1835 to 1856. 

5. The Reverend Horace Stringfellow, D.D. 1856 to 1860. 

6. The Reverend James Souveraine Purdy, D.D. 1860 to 
1876. 

7. The Reverend Philander Kinney Cady, D.D. 1876 to 
1887. 

8. The Reverend Richmond Herbert Gesner, B.D. 1887 
to 1890. 

9. The Reverend Amos Turner Ashton, D.D. 1801 to 1011. 
10. The Reverend Edward Pearsons Newton, ^I. A. lOl'i- 



18 Historical Notes of 

THE REVEREND JOHN McVICKAR, Jr. 
1811—1817 

John McVickar, son of John and Anna (Moore), McVickar 
was born in the city of New York, on the tenth of August, 1787. 
His father was a wealthy merchant of New York and a vestry- 
man of old Trinity 1801-1812. He graduated from Columbia 
College as valedictorian of the class of 1804. In 1807 he be- 
came a candidate for Holy Orders, in preparation for which he 
read theology under the guidance of the Rev, John Henry 
Hobart, who later, having been chosen assistant Bishop of the 
Diocese, ordained him. On Sunday evening, November 12, 
1809, he married Miss Eliza Bard at Hyde Park, and the first 
year of their married life was spent in the home of Dr. Bard, 
while he continued his studies. These circumstances gave 
shape to Dr. Bard's desire to build a church. McVickar was 
something of an architect, so that the planning of his own home 
called Inwood, and that of the church and the erection of both 
went on together. On the day following the Consecration of 
the church, Friday, October 11, 1811, he was ordained to the 
diaconate by Bishop Hobart, and was given charge of the new 
parish. Immediately following the opening services of the 
Dioceasn Convention in 1812, he was ordained priest in Trini- 
ty Church, New York. On November 13, 1817, he was elected 
Professor of Moral Philosophy, Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in 
Columbia College, and the following year at his own request, 
without increase of salary, Intellectual Philosophy and Polit- 
ical Economy were added to his department. This was the 
first introduction into an American College of a chair of politi- 
cal economy. In 1829 he was an aspirant for the Presidency 
of the College, being the natural choice on many accounts, 
and urged by persons of influence, but on December 9, when 
the election took place. Dr. Wm. Alexander Duer, formerly 
one of his vestrymen in Hyde Park, was elected by a majority 
of one vote. Though disappointed he gave Dr. Duer loyal 
support. While engaged in academic duties, he often preached 
in Grace Church and Trinity, and shared in the general public 
duties of the Church in the metropolis. In 1820 he was ap- 




"•Il\ M' \ l< KAI{. 



S. J a me s C h u r c h 19 

pointed to llie missionary committee having the care of the 
Oneida Indians. In 1826 he was elected a trustee of the Gen- 
eral Theological Seminary, serving as member of the standing 
committee. At the same time he was chosen Vice-President 
of the N. Y. Bil)le and Prayer Book Society, and of the X. Y. 
Tract Society. In 1828 he was made a trustee of Trinity 
School, and in 1840 Nice-President of the City Mission Society. 
From 1834 to 1868 he was a member of the Standing Committee 
of the Diocese, and from 1862 to 1868 president thereof. From 
1844 to 1862 he was Chaplain at Fort Columbus, Governor's 
Island. At this time it was the recruiting depot for the Army 
and its Chaplain had opportunity for wide spiritual usefulness, 
missionary work of the highest character and value. There 
was no place provided for public worship, but with his accus- 
tomed energy and perseverance and the kind aid of General 
Scott, the Government was led to set apart a plot of ground 
and a frame chapel was erected after Dr. McVickar's own plans. 
It cost $2,500. He says: "What I can raise by the help of 
friends I will; what I cannot I must bear, and hold it a con- 
secrated gift, laid on God's altar, a trespass-offering for years 
of over-devotion to the acquisition of wealth." He was deeply 
interested in the sending of Colonel Stephenson's regiment to 
California in 1849. Looking upon them as colonists, and 
realizing the importance of their own religious life and habits 
upon the future of the new territory, he labored among them 
untiringly and before they sailed he had persuaded them to 
elect a chaplain, determine on daily prayers on shipboard, and 
saw that they were provided with Bil)les and Prayer Books. 
His sermons and addresses are filled with earnest interest and 
solicitude for their future, and counsels of the soundest com- 
mon sense. He fully believed, as he said, that "The virtue 
of the people is our only political security, and the institutions 
of Christianity our only sufficient safeguard for the existence 
of that virtue". In 1851 in Trinity Church he preached the 
sermon at the celebrating of the Third Semi-Centennial of the 
venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and in 
1854 after the death of Bishop Wainwright he preached the 
sermon before the Diocesan Council, which smoothed the 



20 H istorical N ote s of 

way for the immediate election of a successor. In 1851 his 
college duties were lightened, four professorships being made 
from his department, of which he retained the chair of Evi- 
dences of Natural and Revealed Religion. In 1864 he retired 
from active college duty and became Professor Emeritus. He 
then made Irvington-on-Hudson his home, where he died 
October 20, 1868, and his body was brought to rest in the yard 
of his own first parish church. A short while before his death 
Bishop Horatio Potter had said in his convention address, 
"One venerable and honored presbyter of this diocese, op- 
pressed with the weight of years, but not chilled in his love 
for the Church or in his devotion to duty, retires from the 
official station which he has so long and ably filled as President 
of the Standing Committee— the Rev. John McVickar, D.D., 
for half a century a professor in Columbia College — what a 
historical name in this diocese! How steadfast in his princi- 
ples, how far reaching in his views, and how elevated in all his 
thoughts and sentiments! May the rays of that sun which 
never sets to the Christian heart shine brightly and cheerily 
along his path, and in his chamber, until faith, hope and love 
change into the bliss and glory of the perfect day." 

THE REVEREND DAVID BROWN 

1818—1823 

Rev. David Brown was born at Hopkinstown, Rhode Island, 
October 3, 1786. In 1807 he began to study law, but abandon- 
ed it and studied theology in New York City in 1816 with the 
Rev. Thomas Lyell, D.D. He was ordained deacon by Bishop 
Hobart, October 23, 1817, and priest October 23, 1818. His 
first ministerial labor was, while still a deacon, at Saint James 
Church, Hyde Park, New York, although he had assisted Rev. 
Thomas Lyell, rector of Christ Church, New York, while study- 
ing with him. In February, 1823, he became missionary at 
Fredonia, Chautauqua County, and parts adjacent, remaining 
there until 1826. In 1828 he was principal of a Female Aca- 
demy in Albany. From 1831-34 he was missionary at Lock- 
port, New York, leaving there to enter the service of the 



»S. J a III c s (' h II r <• h 21 

Domestic and Foreij;ii Missionary Society at S. Augustine and 
later Jacksonville, Florida. In IS^i he became rector at 
Florence, Alabama, and returned in ISiS to New York to be- 
come the missionary at Cold Spring Harbor. In 18.n he was 
instituted rector of Saint Andrews Church, Lanil)crtville, 
New Jersey, a position which he held until August, 1867. He 
then retired from the rectorship because of old age, but con- 
tinued to live in Lambcrtvillc until his death, December 7, 
1875. A few years before his death he mentions in his annual 
reports to his Bishop a "little work of great labor on infant 
baptism" which he has ready for the press, but it seems never 
to have been published. The following are the closing senten- 
ces of an obituary of Mr. Brown which appeared in the Church- 
man for January 8, 1876: "Mr. Brown possessed a mind of 
more than ordinary power and clearness, and was gifted with 
an unusually retentive memory. This great gift added to his 
long, studious and varied life, made him a most interesting 
and instructive companion to those who came in contact with 
him, especially his younger brethren of the clergy. Of late 
years he lived much apart from the stirring centers of life, but 
in his retirement he always retained his intelligent apprecia- 
tion of all that interested younger and more active men." 

THE REVEREND SAMUEL ROOSEVELT 

JOHNSON, D.D. 

1824—1833 

Samuel Roosevelt Johnson was born at Newton, Long Is- 
land, November 18, 1802. He graduated from Columbia in 
1820 and from the General Theological Seminary in 1823. 
In 1824 he was called as rector of Saint James Church, Hyde 
Park, where he remained ten years. While there he was or- 
dained priest in his own parish church by Bishop Hobart, 
August 1, 1827, having been previously ordained deacon in 
1824 l)y Bishop Croes. While at Hyde Park he married Eliza- 
beth Johnston, a granddaughter of Dr. Samuel Bard, Septem- 
ber 6, 1826, and his three elder children were born there. In 
1834 he accepted a call to Flushing, Long Island, where he re- 



22 Historical N otes of 

mained nearly a year. In 1835 the general Church aroused 
herself to the great missionary work which lay before her and 
sent out Bishop Kemper to take charge of what was then known 
as "The Northwest", a district which now comprises the ter- 
ritory of several dioceses, Johnson felt moved to give up his 
flourishing parish at Flushing and the comforts of life in the 
East and to volunteer at his own expense to become the travel- 
ing companion of the Bishop. For nearly a year he traveled 
with him. In 1837, having previously officiated four months 
at Jeffersonville, he brought his family to Lafayette, Indiana, 
there to remain about ten years. In this place he organized a 
parish, giving the site for a church building and a large portion 
of the money necessary for its construction, as well as serving 
as its rector without salary. He aided also, by personal ex- 
ertions and gifts, in establishing the Church in many other lo- 
calities in Indiana. He was regarded as the man for the Bis- 
hopric when the Diocese of Indiana was organized, but he an- 
ticipated the wish and assured his friends that under no cir- 
cumstances would he consent to take the position. In 1847 
he returned to the East and became rector of Saint Johns 
Church, Brooklyn, a position which he gave up upon his elec- 
tion in 1850 as Professor of Systematic Divinity in the General 
Theological Seminary. He served as professor for twenty 
years, resigning the position in June, 1869, but consenting to 
remain another year at the urgent request of the Trustees. 
During this period he was one of the most influential professors 
at the Seminary and the testimony of his many students bears 
witness to the great love and veneration in which he was held 
while there. On leaving the Seminary he rested for a brief 
interval from active work and then accepted the rectorship 
of Saint Thomas Church, Amenia, a missionary station in the 
eastern part of Duchess County, New York. In this retired 
and beautiful spot he passed the few remaining days of his 
life, devoting himself with diligence not only to the care of his 
flock but to the welfare and best interests of the entire com- 
munity. He died on August 13, 1873, and his body was 
buried in the church-yard of Saint James Church, Hyde Park. 




KKI ItKX >lli:i{\V(K)|) 



S. James Church 23 

THE REVEREND REUBEN SHERWOOD, S. T. D. 

1835—1856 

Dr. Sherwood was born in 1789 and graduated from Yale 
University in 1813, receiving the degree from the same insti- 
tution in 1817 of A.M. He was ordained deacon by Bishop 
Griswold, May 5, 1815, and priest by Bishop Hobart, November 
4, 1816. From 1816-20 he was the acting rector at Saint 
Pauls Church, Norwalk, Connecticut, being formally institu- 
ted rector of the same church in 1820, where he remained till 
1830. For one year he became rector of the Hartford Acad- 
emy, Hartford, Connecticut, leaving there in 1831 to become 
the missionary at Ulster, New York. He organized Saint 
Johns Church, Kingston, soon after removing to Ulster. At 
Easter, 1835, he became rector of Saint James Church, Hyde 
Park, where he remained until his death, May 11, 1856. In 
1840 Hobart College conferred upon him the honorary degree 
of S.T.D. From the notice of his death, which appeared in the 
Church Journal of New York City of May 15, 1856, the fol- 
lowing sentences are taken: "Dr. Sherwood's departure re- 
moves a landmark from among the clergy of this diocese. His 
position of simple, straightforward performance of what he 
believed to be his duty, on principle, gained him the highest 
respect of all, even of those who most widely differed from him. 
All will grieve that the upright vigor of his hoary head, the 
firm Roman energy of his manly profile, the gentle strength of 
his calm blue eye shall no more be seen among us, and that the 
tones of his voice, — slow, distinct, deliberate, yet tremulous 
with intense earnestness of emotion, shall no longer be heard 
in the councils of the Church. Few have passed as scathless 
as he through the most exciting controversies of our day. Few 
retire to rest crowned with a higher honor in the hearts of all 
whom he leaves behind him." Dr. Sherwood published the 
following works: 

The Christian Soldier, a sermon preached in S. James 
Church the third Sunday after Trinity, 1840. 

A Pastoral address to the members of S. James Church .... 
on the observance of Lent. 



24 Historical Notes of 

Church offerings a sermon at the anniversary of 

the Prot. Episc. Tract Soc. (etc.) in the Church of the As- 
cension, City of New York Sept. 28, 1842. 

The workmen, and their work, in God's building. Sermon 
at the Opening of the Annual Convention .... in the Diocese 
of New York .... in S. Johns Chapel, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1845. 



THE VENERABLE HORACE STRINGFELLOW, D.D. 

1856—1860 

Dr. Stringfellow was born August 6, 1827, at Madison Court- 
house, Virginia. He was ordained deacon July 12, 1850, by 
Bishop Meade, and priest August 6, 1851, by Bishop Johns. 
After attending the theological seminary in Alexandria and 
leaving there in 1850, he became rector of S. Johns Church, 
Harper's Ferry, and later assistant at S. Pauls, Baltimore, 
and rector of S. Andrews, Baltimore. In 1856 he became 
rector of S. James Church, Hyde Park, where the birth of 
several of his children and the kindness of the people created 
life-long attachments. He left S. James in 1860 and became 
rector of Christ Church, Indianapolis, one of the largest par- 
ishes there. During the Civil War he left his parish to serve 
as a chaplain in the Southern Army, going through many 
battles in charge of a hospital corps. Toward the close of the 
war he ran the blockade and went to Canada and held a small 
parish there for a time, returning almost immediately to In- 
dianapolis, however, and becoming rector of S. Pauls parish 
there, which shortly became the cathedral of the diocese. 
Fully a dozen buildings, churches, chapels, and hospitals, 
owe their existence to his energy. The urgings of Bishop 
Wilmer led him to leave his large parish in Indiana to go to 
Alabama where prospects were poor and dreary. He became 
rector of S. Johns Church, Montgomery, in 1869 and remained 
there until his death. Besides fulfilling all the duties of his 
large parish he was Archdeacon of Alabama, carrying the in- 
fluence of his attractive personality and force of character 
into various parishes and towns throughout the diocese. He 




i.oi: \( 1-. siHiN(,ii;i.i,<t\\ 



.S. James C h n r c h '25 

died on Xovenibcr C, 1893. Dr. Strinj^fellow's body was a 
type of liis soul. It was said of him that "from his shoulders 
and upwartl he was higher than any of his people." 

THE REVEREND JAMES S. PURDY, D.D. 
1860—1876 

The Rev. James Souveraine Purdy was born in Rye, New 
York, Sept. 1, 1825. He was graduated from Trinity College 
in the class of 1849 and from the General Theological Seminary 
in the class of 1852, after which he served for one year as tutor 
of Latin and Greek in Trinity College, when he became rector 
of Trinity Church, Southport, Conn., 1854 to 1858. On May 
16, 185-4, he was married to Miss Susan Bard Johnson, daugh- 
ter of Dr. Samuel Roosevelt Johnson, D.D. In 1858 he be- 
came Vicar of Calvary Chapel, New York, under Dr. Hawks, 
which post he resigned that he might live in the country in the 
hope of restoring the failing health of his wife, and accepted 
the call to S. James Church, Hyde Park, in 1860. Mrs. Purdy 
died the same year, leaving a young daughter, Elizabeth John- 
son (Sister Elisa Monica of the Order of Saint John Baj^tist, 
at this date (1913) Sister in charge of S. Helens Hall, Port- 
land, Oregon). 

On December 17, 1862, he married Miss Frances Hannah 
Carter, daughter of the Rev. Lawson Carter, who bore to him 
a son, Mr. Lawson Purdy of New York City. 

Dr. Purdy was through life a most diligent student. In 
Trinity College he distinguished himself in the classical lan- 
guages. One recalls that during his Seminary course he made 
an extended abstract of Bingham's voluminous work on Chris- 
tian Antiquities and another copious one of a standard work 
on Dogmatic Theology by a Roman Catholic writer. When 
Frederick Denison Maurice became a power in the Church he 
purchased and read all his works, "and when he unfolded and 
criticised his theology, ethics and philosophy to my wondering 
ear, I was astounded by his exposition, its clearness, fullness 
and satisfactoriness. I rememlier on another occasion his in- 
forming me that he had just finished reading in the original, 



26 Historical Notes of 

eight or ten volumes of St. Simon's Memoirs". His sermons 
were invariably striking. They were full of matter, vivid in 
style and arresting in interest. One could not help listening 
absorbingly to them. And his conversation, when he was in 
the vein of talking, was most delightful. His affections were 
strong. He made the warmest of friends. And his sympathy 
with the destitute and suffering was extreme. Supplicants 
for aid preyed on him. He gave indiscriminately, without 
investigation, and necessarily was constantly imposed upon 
and robbed. At Saint James Dr. Purdy served sixteen years, 
the best years of his ministry, a vigorous patient, devoted 
ministry. The memories of his Bible classes are still fresh. 
After his retirement he gratuitously tutored numbers of young 
men, helping them to enter college. Dr. Purdy died on 
March 21, 1883. 

THE REVEREND PHILANDER KINNEY CADY, D.D.* 

1876—1887 
The Rev. P. K. Cady, D.D., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
October 23, 1826. He graduated in 1843 from Woodward 
College, Cincinnati, from the General Theological Seminary 
in 1850, and received the degree of A. M. from Trinity College, 
Hartford, in 1856. He was ordained deacon June 30, 1850, by 
Bishop Whittingham, and priest June 29, 1851, by Bishop 
DeLancey. In 1851 he became rector of Trinity Church, 
West Troy, New York. From 1856-1860 he was rector of 
Grace Church, Newark, where he did much to make the work 
of that parish permanent and effective. His other parishes 
have been Grace Church, Albany, 1861-65; Christ Church, 
Poughkeepsie, 1866-75; Saint James Church, Hyde Park, 1876 
-87. In 1871, 1874 and 1877 he was Clerical Deputy of the 
Diocese of New York to the meetings of the General Conven- 
tions held in those years. In 1889 Dr. Cady was elected to the 
Professorship of the Evidences of Natural and Revealed 
Religion in the General Theological Seminary, This position 
he held until 1902, when he was made Professor Emeritus. 
He was Acting Dean of the Seminary from the death of Dean 

*See plate facing page 66. 




.1 \Mi> >(»i \ 1,1! \i\i: iM Kl>^ 



iS. J a ni e s Church 27 

Hoffman in June 1902, to the installation of Dean Robbins in 
Sej)tcnibcr, 1003. Columbia University conferred upon him 
in 187G the degree of S. T. D., and in 1895 the Seminary did 
the same. On June 11, 1863, Dr. Cady married Miss Helen 
S. Hamilton, who died in 1808. Dr. Cady now lives at 
Ridgefield, Connecticut. 

THEREVERENDRICHMONDHERBERTGESNER.B.D.* 

1887—1890 

Richmond Herbert Gesner was born in Kingston, N. Y., 
while his father the Rev. A. H. Gesner was rector of the Church 
of the Holy Spirit. He prepared for college at the Holbrook 
School, Ossining, N, Y., and entering S. Stephens College, 
Annandale in 1877, and graduated with honors in 1883. 

He graduated from the General Theological Seminary in 
1886 and the following February, while minister in charge of 
S. Johns Church, Yonkers, was advanced to the priesthood 
by Bishop Potter. The General Seminary in the following 
June conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. 
Bishop Potter commended Mr. Gesner to the rectorate of this 
parish and he entered upon his duties in July, 1887, serving 
the parish until June, 1890, w^hen he became the first rector of 
S. Marys Church, Tower, Minn. After a year's service there, 
he was recommended by Bishop Gilbert to the parish of his 
boyhood, Zion Church, Morris, N. Y. Thence after four years 
he went to old Christ Church, West Haven, the most historic 
j)arish in Connecticut. In 1899 he accepted the call of Trinity 
Church, Lime Rock. After seven years of work there he went 
to Christ Church, Oswego, one of the leading parishes of Cen- 
tral New York. Mr Gesner is a member of three very impor- 
tant committees in the diocese. In 1890 he married Miss 
\'irginia I. Brett of Ali)any, N. Y. They have four children. 
Mr. CJesner has been for many years a contributor of verse to 
the lioston Eveniri;/ Transcript and has in preparation a 
little book on the E\idences of the Christian Faith. 

The Rev. Authon T. Gesner, Professor of Ethics and Apolo- 
getics in the Berkeley Divinity School, is his brother. 

*Sci' plate facing page 72. 



28 E I storical N ote s of 

THE REVEREND AMOS TURNER ASHTON, D.D. 
1891—1911 

Dr. Ashton was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 
3, 1849. He was the son of Job and Abby Stacy (Turner) 
Ashton. On his mother's side he was descended from one of 
the earliest New England families; Hugh Stacy, her great- 
great-grandfather, having settled in the colony of Plymouth, 
in the year 1622. 

The public schools of Providence, and Brown University, 
supplied the classical education, which was to bear the fruit 
of a faithful ministry of thirty-six years. Dr. Ashton was 
graduated from Brown in the class of 1872, and the next year 
entered the General Theological Seminary in New York. He 
was ordained Deacon in 1875 and Priest in Advent of the same 
year by Bishop Horatio Potter. 

On June 30, 1875, he married Amelia Huntington Sill, 
younger daughter of Rev. Ferderick and Margaret (Cocks) 
Sill, of New York City, and entered upon the duties of his 
first cure: S. Thomas Church, Amenia Union, New York. 
Two daughters were born to him at Amenia, Margaret Abby, 
and Leonora Sill. 

In 1878 Mr. Ashton accepted the rectorship of Trinity 
Church, West Haverstraw New York; and in addition to his 
parochial duties, assumed the missionary charge of the neigh- 
boring village of Haverstraw, and the mountain missions of 
Rockland County. 

Two sons were born at West Haverstraw, Mortimer Stacy, 
the present rector of Zion Church, Morris, New York; and 
Frederick Turner, the present rector of S. Pauls Church, Salem, 
New York. 

After a service of thirteen years, devoted to these labors, he 
was elected rector of S. James Church, Hyde Park, N. Y., and 
continued in this parish until the day of his death. 

He was appointed Archdeacon of Duchess by Bishop Henry 
C. Potter in 1901, and under his direction an active mis- 
sionary work was carried on in the central and eastern sections 
of the covmty. 




AMOS 'iri{\i;i{ \>ii ION 



S. James C h u r c h 29 

In 1903 Brown University awarded the degree of Doctor of 
Divinity with these prophetic words: "Amos Turner Ashton, 
11 'Workman that ncedeth not to be ashamed.' " (2 Tim. 2:15.) 
Prophetic, hecau.se as a country missionary at Amenia and 
West Haverstraw, as rector of his two parishes, as Archdeacon 
and as a clerical member of the Standing Committee of tiie 
Dioceses of New York, to which body he was elected in 1904, 
and on which he served until his death, he proved him.self a 
'Faithful dispenser of the Word of GOD, and of His Holy 
Sacraments." 

Dr. Ashton was a keen classical scholar, his chief pleasure, 
apart from the discharge of his official duties, being historical 
research. He was a recognized authority on Church History 
and Canon Law. 

Too keen an observer of the complexity of human nature to 
be concerned with the partisan feelings which from time to 
time are asserted by the various schools of thought in the 
Church, Dr. Ashton manifested in his public and private life 
that : "In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anj'thing, 
nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." And this breadth 
of sympathy for all mankind was the basis of his success in 
the private counsel of a Shepherd of Souls, as well as in the 
weightier deliberations of a Church Dignitary. 

On Christmas Day, 1910, Dr. Ashton celebrated the Holy 
Communion in S. James Chapel, Hyde Park. This was the 
last public service at which he officiated. For many months 
he had suffered from an affection of the heart which finally 
ended his ministry of thirty-six years. 

In perfect consciousness, he entered into life eternal, on 
January 10, 1911. 

THE REVEREND EDWARD PEARSONS NEWTON* 

1912— 
The Rev. Edward Pearsons Newton, son of the Rev. Ben- 
jamin Ball and Adeline (Prichard) Newton, was born in Saint 
Albans, Vermont, August 28, 1859. The family moving to 
Brooklyn, New York, he was educated in Holy Trinity Parish 
♦See plate facing page 70. 



30 Historical Notes of 

School, and Saint Johns School, Manlius, New York, graduat- 
ing from Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, in the class 
of 1881. Having some doubts as to his vocation to the minis- 
try he taught for two years, entering Berkeley Divinity School, 
Middletown, Connecticut, in 1883. He was ordained Deacon 
by the Rt. Rev. John Williams, D.D,, on June 2, 1886, and 
Priest by the Rt. Rev. John Franklin Spalding, D.D., in Den- 
ver, Colorado, on December 18, of the same year. He was 
rector of Holy Trinity Church, Pueblo, Colorado, from 1886 
until May, 1902, when he became Senior Curate of Calvary 
Church, New York, under the Rev. J. Lewis Parks, D.D., which 
post he resigned in November, 1907, having offered himself to 
the Rt. Rev. Peter Trimble Rowe, D.D., for missionary service 
in Alaska. He was stationed in Valdez, on Prince William 
Sound, having charge as well of the Church's missions in Cor- 
dova, Seward and Katalla, which duties he resigned in August, 
1911. He was elected rector of Saint James Church, Hyde 
Park, January 8, 1912. On February 8, 1912, in Calvary 
Church, New York, he was married to Miss Carolina Burton 
Hart, only daughter of Dr. Charles Alfred and Virginia (Bur- 
ton) Hart, and came into residence February 16, 1912. 




\i;( IIIUM.D 1{(K.1.I{- 



S. J a m e if C It u r c h 31 



THE FIRST VESTRYMEN 

Samuel Bard 



KWIS J 



-^ , , ./ardens. 

Morgan Le 

John Johnston 

Nathaniel Pendleton 

William Broome 

"William Bard 

Christopher Hughes, 2d 

James Duane Livingston 

Titus Dutton 

William Alexander Duer 



32 Historical Notes of 

SAMUEL BARD, M.D. 

Senior Warden 1812-1821 

The earliest Bard colonists settled in Delaware, Samuel, 
the son of Doctor John and Susanne (Valleau) Bard, was born 
in Philadelphia, April 1, 1742. The family removed to New 
York City when Samuel was four years old. 

His mother was a descendant of Peter Fauconnier, a French 
refugee, who was Receiver General and Treasurer to Lord 
Cornbury (Edward Hyde), Queen Anne's favorite cousin, 
when he was Royal Governor. Fauconnier received from his 
patron several grants of land, one of which, styled in his honor 
"Hyde Park", ultimately fell by inheritance to Mrs. Bard, 
the claims of other heirs having been settled by cash payments. 
Hyde Park was originally the name of this country estate (now 
owned by Mr. Frederick W. Vanderbilt), and the Bards were 
at first annoyed when it was applied to the local inn and to the 
village. 

Samuel was educated in the schools of New York City, and 
pursued the study of medicine under the guidance of his father. 
He sailed for London in November, 1761, where he enjoyed 
some practical hospital experience under eminent men of the 
time, and went to Edinburgh in September, 1762, taking a 
three years' course in medicine and receiving his diploma on 
September 6, 1765. He was married in Christ Church, Phila- 
delphia, on May 14, 1770, to his cousin, Mary Bard, a daughter 
of Peter and Marie (de Normandie) Bard. In the Edin- 
burgh University there were quite a number of American stu- 
dents in medicine. They often discussed the need for Medical 
Colleges in the new land. Those from Philadelphia were first 
successful in a move in this direction, but within a year of his 
return to New York, Doctor Bard had so stirred the medical 
profession in the city that the first Medical School was organ- 
ized and united to Kings College (now Columbia University), 
and he was given the Professorship of "The Practice of Physic". 

When the first degrees were conferred in 1769, to Doctor 
Bard was assigned the honorable task of addressing the stu- 




SA.MI i:i. KAKI). 

.\rnT u porlrait j>airiH'(l bv Saniucl Waldo. <)wiic<J hv the New York Ilo-ipital 
TlirouKli tlii' coiirti'sy of I lit- Hoard of DiriTtors. 



S. J a m e s (' It ii re h 33 

dents. In his (liscourse upon "The Duties of a Physician", 
he took occasion to enforce tlie necessity for a puljhc hospital 
in New York City. The suggestion was welcomed. 

The Governor, trustees of the College, and others suhscrihed 
to a fund at once, wiiich later received more general donations. 
A site for the New York Hospital was bought, and a building 
erected, which burned before it was used. This blow, to- 
gether with the political dissensions of the time, delayed fur- 
ther work until 1791. When tlie hospital was finally opened 
Doctor liard became the first Attending Physician, visiting its 
wards daily until his retirement from active practise in 1798. 

In 181.'} when a separation took place between Columbia 
College and its Medical School, upon the remodelling of the 
latter, Doctor Bard became the President of the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, which position he held until his 
death. 

A man of Doctor Bard's character and activity could not re- 
tire from the active practise of his profession to a life of idle 
ease. The picture of his life at Hyde Park presented by his 
biographer is a charming one. He was an early riser, and he 
regularly devoted a part of his early morning to religious read- 
ing and reflection, by which, as he himself expressed it, he en- 
deavored to "set his mind to a right edge for the business of 
the day". 

The morning was devoted to reading and study, guiding the 
studies of his family, and to the care of the estate, which he 
greatly improved and beautified, importing and planting trees 
which are greatly admired today. The strength and charm of 
the personality of this remarkable man is evidenced by the way 
in which relatives and friends were drawn to make their coun- 
try homes in Hyde Park, and the social life of those days, from 
all accounts, must have been most delightful. 

A friend in writing to him shortly after the consecration of the 
Church says: "God has been pleased, my dear friend, to afford 
you the ability, and to give you the heart, to make great ex- 
ertions in his service, and has shown you His favor in permit- 
ting you to accomplish a work of so much present usefulness, 
and of such future promise. I trust that the same dispensa- 



34 H istorical N otes of 

tions in which your children partake with you, will be contin- 
ued to their descendants; and that if the inhabitants of a better 
world be spectators of the employments of this, you may be 
privileged to behold your descendants from generation to gen- 
eration offering up the sacrifice of humble and contrite hearts 
in that house which God has enabled you to erect for His wor- 
ship and service." 

A man who was prime mover in the establishment of three 
institutions, a medical school, a hospital, and a parish church, 
needs no eulogium. His works do follow him and speak his 
praise. 

He died at Hyde Park, May 24, 1821, within twenty-four 
hours of the death of his wife on May 23, which had been a 
desire long cherished, and their bodies rest in the same grave 
in the churchyard. On May 28, Sarah (de Normandie) Barton 
died, aged eighty-eight. 

MORGAN LEWIS 

Junior Warden 1812-1827. Senior Warden 1827-1836 

Morgan Lewis was born in New York on October 16, 1754, 
being the second son of Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, and of Elizabeth Annesley. He owed 
his early education to his mother, later being placed at a gram- 
mar school in Elizabethtown, whence he entered Princeton 
College. There his favorite companion was James Madison. 
Lewis graduated from Princeton with honor in 1773. 

He had chosen the Church as his profession, but complied 
with the wishes of his father in adopting law, and was about to 
commence his legal studies in London when the War of the Rev- 
olution began. In 1775 Lewis joined as a volunteer the Ameri- 
can forces before Boston. 

In August of the same year Lewis took command, with the 
title of Major, of a company of volunteers. Almost immediate- 
ly he was ordered to prevent the "Asia", an English vessel, 
from interfering with a small party of citizens who at night- 
fall were removing military equipments from the Arsenal on 
the Battery. This task he accomplished successfully. 

In June, 1776, Major Lewis, with the rank of Colonel, ac- 




MOItCAN LKWIS. 

From a portrait by Trumbull, in the New York City Hall. 



S. James C h ii r c h 35. 

companied General Gates as chief of staff when the latter took 
command of the army in Canada. In August, 1777, when the 
battle of Ticonderoga was fought. Colonel Lewis was stationed 
on the heiglits with a few mounted men to act as messengers 
to report to General Gates the movements of the enemy. So 
wvll did he accomplish this that the next day the enemy were 
invited to stack their arms on the plains, and were led out 
through a double line of American troops. 

At the close of the Revolution, Lewis, as colonel of a regiment, 
had the honor of escorting General Washington at his first 
inauguration as President. 

When the war was ended Colonel Lewis took uj) the study 
and practise of law, and represented Duchess County, to 
which he had removed, in the Assembly. In 1791 he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General of State. In 179^2 he was raised to 
the bench of the Supreme Court, and the next year he became 
Chief Justice, and finally, Governor of the state of New York 
in 1804. 

In the War of 1812 Lewis was made, first, Brigadier, and 
then Major-General. At the conclusion of this war he retired 
to private life. In 1779 he had married Gertrude, daughter of 
Robert Livingston, and sister of Robert R. and Edward Living- 
ston, who were successively ministers to the Court of France. 

For many years he presided over the Historical Society and 
the Order of the Cincinnati. He died in 1844 in his ninetieth 
year, and his body rests in the churchyard. 



JUDGE JOHN JOHNSTON 

Vestryman 1812. Junior Warden 1829-183G. Senior Warden 

1830-1850 

Judge John Johnston was born June 13, 1762. He was a 
descendant of Dr. John Johnston, who was Mayor of the City 
of New York in 1712. He married on May 26, 1792, Susannah, 
eldest child of Dr. Samuel and Mary Bard. About 1798 
Judge Johnston, together with his friends. Dr. Samuel Bard, 
and General Morgan Lewis, settled at Hyde Park. For a 



36 HistoricalNotesof 

time Judge Johnston was a vestryman and clerk of Christ 
Church, Poughkeepsie, until he joined with others in found- 
ing Saint James Church, Hyde Park. For some years he 
was Supervisor of the town. On June 5, 1807, he was 
made Presiding Judge of the court of Common Pleas of 
Duchess County, and on February 4, 1820, he became clerk of 
the county. He died August 29, 1850. 

NATHANIEL PENDLETON 

Vestryman 1812 

Nathaniel Pendleton, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth 
(Clayton) Pendleton was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, 
1756. 

His brother Edmund Pendleton was famous as a patriot in 
the days prior to the Revolution, presiding over the Virginia 
convention, and himself drew up the instructions for the dele- 
gates to the colonial convention wherein they were bidden to 
propose that the convention declare "the United States free 
and independent states, absolved from all allegiance or de- 
pendence upon the crown or parliament of Great Britain." 
Nathaniel studied law, and in 1796 opened law offices in New 
York City, and there married Susannah, a sister of Dr. Samuel 
Bard. Washington suggested his name for Secretary of State, 
but the suggestion was opposed by Alexander Hamilton, who 
feared that he was "somewhat tainted with the prejudices of 
Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison." Later he became a close 
personal friend to Hamilton and was his second in the famous 
duel, Hamilton dying in his arms. He was a delegate to the 
convention of 1787, which framed the Constitution of the 
United States, though being absent on the last day of its ses- 
sions, he failed to sign the document. He attained eminence at 
the bar in New York. In consequence of the strong affections of 
the Bard family, he, too, naturally made Hyde Park his country 
home, and became Judge of Duchess County. Some of his 
descendants of the fifth generation are still resident here, and 
it is the burial place of the family. He died in Hyde Park 
October 20, 1821. 




WllJ.IAM n\l{\). 



After a porirait owiir.i hy his n;nin lilau^litur. Mrs. Charles A. Moran. 



S. J a m c .s- (' h u r c h 37 

WILLIAM BROOM 

Vestryman 1812 

William Broom (born in Bristol, England, Nov. 27, 1760), 
whose wife was Annike Crooke, widow of Colonel W'illiam 
Barber, lived at Bellefield, the present residence of Mr. Thomas 
Newbold. He was a merchant in New York City. Charles 
Crooke, the father of Mrs. Broom, owned eighteen hundred 
acres along the Hudson south of the village, and it was he who 
set out the trees, for a mile upon the public highway, which are 
so great an adornment of the road to Poughkeepsie, and so 
great a comfort to summer travelers. 

A tradition in the Crooke family has it that the timbers for 
old Christ Church in Poughkeepsie were cut upon the Crooke 
place, and brought to town by his oxen, being a gift for the 
erection of the church in which he was deeply interested. 
William Broom and Ann (Crooke) Barber were married by 
the Rev. Philander Chase, later the famous pioneer Bishop, 
on July 8, 1801. Broom's eldest child Mary was the wife 
first of Edward P. Livingston and second of Judge Charles 
Ruggles. He left two sons Charles and John. He died in 
Albany, January 17, 1830, in his sixty-second year. The in- 
scription upon his wife's tombstone reads as follows. "Sacred 
to the memory of Ann Broom, daughter of Charles Crooke, 
born at Crum Elbow, April 14, 176o, died at Brookside, Pough- 
keepsie, April 27, 1856, in the 89th year of her age". 



WILLIAM BARD 

Vestryman 1812. Senior W^arden 1822-1827. Junior War- 
den 1827-1829 

William Bard, son of Dr. Samuel and Mary Bard was 
born in Pliila(lelj)liia April 4, 1778. He was graduated 
from Columbia College in the class of 1798, and directly be- 
gan Ihe study of law under Judge Maturin Livingston. On 
Octcbcr 7, 1802, in Trinity Church, New York, he was married 
to Miss Catlsarine Cruger, daughter of Nicholas and Anna 



"38 Historical Notes of 

(de Nully) Cruger. Dr. Bard made over to him an estate, 
from a portion of Hyde Park, and his wife inheriting a large 
fortune from her grandmother, Madame de Nully of the Island 
of San Croix, W. I., they built a house and set up an establish- 
ment and named the place "de Nully". Upon the death of 
his father and mother William Bard took possession of the 
paternal home and there kept up the same extended hospitali- 
ties as did his father. Bishop Moore had officiated at William 
Bard's wedding, and his son, the Rev. Clement Moore, was very 
intimate in the family at Hyde Park, and he read to the chil- 
dren his much beloved poem "The Night Before Christmas" 
from the manuscript before it ever was published. After the 
Revolution, the old families, long seated on domains on the 
Hudson began to be regarded with no friendly eye. Those of 
them who were members of the Cincinnati were looked upon as 
aristocrats not to be tolerated. William Bard saw that the day 
of his ancestors and their traditional life was passing. Again, a 
large family of children had grown up, and they pressed him to 
remove to the city. With "a heavy heart" he sold Hyde Park 
to Dr. David Hosack, and about 1826 removed to New York. 
He was pressed to take the presidency of Columbia College, 
but he knew he had not the dominating character for such 
leadership. His influence was great, but from example, and a 
singular perfection of the religious side of his nature. He was 
preeminently a scholar. Five o'clock every morning found 
him at his studies and reading. He founded the New York 
Life Insurance and Trust Co., and was its president. He was 
active in the benevolent doings of his day. He never began 
his business duties until he had attended Morning Prayer in 
Trinity Church. He died October 17, 1853, in his home at 
Staten Island and his body lies buried in a family vault in 
Saint Marks churchyard on the Bowery. It is evident from 
the dates above that the parish would not listen to his resig- 
nation as Senior Warden immediately upon his moving from 
Hyde Park. 




JAMES 1)1 AN K LIVIN(;ST()N. 

After a niinialiirc painti'd by Ciirlson in ISO'). TliroviKli tlio courtesy of the 
family of tlic lati' Cliai'h's .lames I-iviiiKston. 




WILLIAM Alj;\A.\l)KI{ DIKH. 
After a i)orlrail l)y H»-iiry Inniati. in the possession of (\)himl>ia I'niversity. N.Y 



S. ./ (/ ni c s (' h II re li 39 

CHRISTOPHER HUGHES, 2d 

Vestrymun 181 2 

Christoi)hcr Hughes, 2(1, was the son of Captain Christopher 
Hughes (b. Sept. 17, 174.5; d. jSlay 22, 180o), the first of the 
name in these parts. Captain Cliristopher was engaged in 
trading with the West Indies, and made New Haven his home 
port, where liis son was born August 14, 1772. He married as 
his second wife Abigail Mulford of Staatsburgh, and made that 
town his home. There is a tradition that upon his settlement 
here he brought all his wealth in Continental paper money, 
that in some manner it was water soaked, that he and his 
mate hired a room in a home north of the church, in which to 
spread out and dry the bills. He bought land north of Staats- 
burgh. 

For his son he bought a farm between S. James and Staats- 
burgh, Christopher, 2d, was married December 12, 1832, to 
Rachel Pawling, who died November 22, 1850, while he died 
May 30, 1856. 

JAMES DUANE LIVINGSTON 

Vestryman 1812 

James Duane Livingston, of "The Locusts", Staatsburgh-on- 
Hudson, N. Y., and a member of the first Vestry of S. James 
Church, Hyde Park, was born in the City of New York, on 
September 1, 1786. He was the youngest son of Robert "Cam- 
bridge" Livingston and Alice Swift, his wife, and a grandson of 
Robert Livingston, third (and last) Lord of the Manor of 
Livingston. He was graduated from Columbia College in the 
Class of 1804, studied law in the office of Peter Van Schaack, 
of Kinderhook with the son of Alexander Hamilton and otlier 
sons of prominent New York families, and was admitted to the 
Bar, by Chancellor Kent, in 1810. On October 9, 1809, he 
was married by Bj). White, of Pennsylvania, to his cousin, 
Sarah Swift, of Philadelphia, at the country residence of her 
father, Charles Swift, "Croyden Lodge", Bucks Co., Pa. Mr. 
Livingston made his home in Staatsburgh for about twenty- 



40 Historical N otes oj 

five years, and all but one of his ten children were born there. 
They are all (but one) buried with their parents, in S. James 
churchyard. 

After the death of his wife, in 1835, Mr. Livingston decided 
to move to New York, and sold "The Locusts" to Robert 
Emmet, Esq. His own death followed shortly after, on June 
25, 1837. He left but one son, the late Charles James Living- 
ston of New York, and daughters, Alice, who married Howard 
Tillotson, Esq.; Julia, wife of Hon. Charles A. Peabody; and 
Louisa, wife of Oliver H. Jones, Esq, of New York and Long 
Island. The others died unmarried, in early life. 

WILLIAM ALEXANDER DUER 

Vestryman 1812 

William Alexander Duer, son of William and Catherine 
(Alexander) Duer was born in Rhinebeck on September 8, 1780. 
He served as a midshipman under Decatur in 1798, and stu- 
died law in Philadelphia, and later in the office of Nathaniel 
Pendleton in New York, being admitted to the bar in 1802. 
He married Hannah Maria, daughter of William Denning, a 
merchant of New York on September 11, 1806, and soon after 
they removed to New Orleans, where he was in the law office 
of Edward Livingston, and familiarized himself with Spanish 
civil law. As his wife disliked living so far from her kin he re- 
turned to the north and settled in Rhinebeck, practising law 
until he was raised to the Supreme Bench of the State in 1822, 
when he removed to Albany. He was elected President of 
Columbia College, December 9, 1829, and thereupon resigned 
his judgeship. In 1843, owing to ill health, he resigned the 
presidency of Columbia and removed to Morristown, N. J. 
There, and in the neighborhood, he lived until his death which 
occurred in New York City, May 30, 1858, while he was visiting 
a married daughter. During his years of leisure he contribu- 
ted to various magazines many papers and sketches of old 
New York and its history, writing, also, at the request of Wash- 
ington Irving, recollections of Washington and his family with 
whom he was intimate while a boy. 




:*t^__ ,*' 




I 1 I I - 1)1 ITON. 
AftiT a portrait. TlirDiitili t he coiirtt'sy of Mr<. S. I'. Korinan. of N»-\v Vork. 



S. J a 111 e s C hiirch 41 

He could remember seeing General Washington at the time 
he gave his farewell address, though but nineteen at the time 
of Washington's death. 

TITUS DUTTOX 

Vestryman 1812 

Titus Dutton (son of Sir William Dutton of England) was 
born in Middlotown, Conn., in 1747. He served through the 
Revolutionary War as Lieutenant of the Connecticut Conti- 
nental Line. He married Elizabeth Scott and had four children 
when they removed to Hyde Park in 1797. He learned the 
work of a carpenter and cabinetmaker, and some of the rush- 
bottom chairs that he made for his children, and which have 
been in daily use for a hundred years, are as strong and good as 
ever. 

His oldest child Mary (Polly) married WiUiam Stoutenburgh 
and had eight children. Two of her boys went to California, 
two others were physicians. Two daughters died unmarried 
and Mary married Rev. Mr. Quinn. The descendants of at 
least one of her sons have reached the fourth generation of 
Stoutenburghs. 

His third child Charles was thought to have been lost at sea. 

The fourth child, Samuel Beldon Dutton, born July 18, 1795, 
married in S. James Church, Oct., 18^20, Catherine Vander- 
burgh and had three children. The eldest of these, Charles 
Titus Dutton, ninety-one years old, and a great grandfather 
is living in Wilkinsburgh a suburb of Pittsburg, Pa. 

Five years after the death of his wife, S. B. Dutton married 
her youngest sister Eliza DeWitt Vanderburgh in S. James 
Church, Oct. 22, 1829, and after a tally-ho ride to Poughkeepsie 
and a wedding journey to New York City (via a sloop which 
took longer than it does to go to Europe today) they settled in 
Poughkeepsie. They had one daughter who married S. P. 
For man. She is 80 years old and now living in New York City 
with her daughter Grace Forman. 

The bodies of Titus Dutton and his wife and daughter-in- 
law, Catherine V. Dutton, lie buried in S. James churchyard. 



42 



Historical N ote s of 



SENIOR WARDENS 



Samuel Bard, 
William Bard, 
Morgan Lewis, 
John Johnston, 
James Russell, 
Elias Butler, 
Christopher Hughes 3d, 
James Roosevelt, 
Archibald Rogers, 



1812—1822 

1822—1827 

1827—1836 

1836—1850 

1850—1867" 

1867—1878 

1879—1894 

1894—1901 

1901— 



(See page 32) 
(See page 37) 
(See page 34) 
(See page 35) 



JUNIOR WARDENS 



Morgan Lewis, 


1812- 


-1827 


(See page 


34) 


WiUiam Bard, 


1827- 


-1829 


(See page 


37) 


John Jolmston, 


1829- 


-1836 


(See page 


35) 


Edmund Henry Pendleton, 


1836- 


-1837 






James Russell, 


1837- 


-1850 






David Johnston, 


1850- 


-1858 






Edmund Henry Pendleton, 


1858- 


-1867* 






Christopher Hughes 3d, 


1867- 


-1879 






Nathaniel Pendleton Rogers, 


1879- 


-1892 






James Roosevelt, 


1892- 


-1894 






Archibald Rogers, 


1894- 


-1901 






Samuel Braman Sexton, 


1901- 


-1903 






S. Nicholson Kane, 


1903- 


-1906 






John Hopkins, 


1906- 


- 







*There are no records of elections from 1861 to 1867. Presumably the old vestry con- 
tinued, so far as anything was done during war times. 




KLIAS Bl TLKK. 



S. James C h u r c h 4i9- 

JAMES RUSSELL 

Vestryman iy'-28. Junior Warden 1837-1850. Senior Warden 

1850-1857 

James Russell was the son of Isaac Russell who was elected 
to the vestry in 1815. The son, born in Staatsburgh, Septem- 
ber i24, 1779, soon followed the father as vestryman and for 
thirty years served as a member of that body. He was deeply 
interested in the early beginnings of the mission in Staats})urgh 
the first services being held in his house, while postmaster, 
which office he filled for many years. On December 19, 1822, 
he was married to Sally Gibbs. Their descendants are still 
residents of Staatsbm-gh. 

ELIAS BUTLER 

Vestryman 1845-1878. Senior Warden 1867-1878 

Elias Butler, born January 13, 180G, was a native of the 
State of New York and early entered upon a business career. 
In 1842 he retired from active business and purchased the 
place in Hyde Park called Crumwold. Here he spent the re- 
mainder of his life, enjoying his library and the oversight of 
the farm and the garden with its greenhouses and vinery. He 
took great interest in politics, though he never would accept 
any office. He was always a devoted and energetic member 
of the parish. He died April 29, 1878. 

CHRISTOPHER HUGHES, 3d* 

Vestryman 1850. Junior Warden 18G7-1879. Senior 
Warden 1879-1894 

Christopher Hughes, 3d, was the son of Christoi)her and 
Rachel (Pawling) Hughes. He was born July 31, 1805, 
married Dec. 12, 1832, Sarah Lamoree, and died May 28, 
1903. He was a farmer and good citizen of the type which 
have made this nation and have been the l)ackbone of its 
liberties and institutions. In 1S33 Governor Wm. L. Marcy 
♦See plate facing page 68. 



44 Historical Azotes of 

appointed him Junior Cornet in the 23d Regiment of Cavalry, 
and the following year he was made a Captain therein. He 
served for many years as a School Trustee, and also as Super- 
visor of the town. He was regularly at the services in S. 
James with his family, and when Sunday evening came would 
get his lantern, and hitch up his horses to drive to Staatsburgh 
to attend the service there, thus helping the beginnings of the 
mission there, which have resulted in S. Margarets parish, in 
which his descendants are still loyal workers. 



JAMES ROOSEVELT 

Vestryman 1858. Junior Warden 1892-1894 
Senior Warden 1894-1901 

James Roosevelt, a descendant of Isaac Roosevelt, one of the 
first senators from this state was born on July 16, 1828. 

He was graduated from Union College in the flass of 1847 
and thereafter studied and traveled in Europe for two years. 
Subsequently he studied law in the Harvard Law School, and 
entered the office of Benjamin D. Silliman in New York. He 
was called from his profession into the management of impor- 
tant corporations, holding offices as president, trustee, and 
director of railway, transportation and trust companies. He 
was a manager of the Hudson River State Hospital, and a 
member of the Board of State Charities and of many charitable 
institutions in various parts of the State. He spent as much of 
his time each year as his manifold duties would permit, at his 
country place, in Hyde Park, which he dearly loved, and took 
an active interest in the local affairs of the town, having been 
for years especially devoted to the welfare of the public school. 
As vestryman and warden he served Saint James parish with 
constant zeal. Actively useful as a business man, a philan- 
thropic and public spirited citizen, he was the very ideal of a 
gentleman of the old school, witnessing by his kindliness and 
charm of manner to the nobility and honor of his inner Chris- 
tian character. 

He died December 8, 1900. 




.i\Mi> i:(»(>sKVKi/r 



S. J a m e s C h u r c h 45 

He married first Rebecca Ilowland in 1852. He married as 
his second wife Sara Delano, 1880. Each of whom bore to 
him a son, James Roosevelt Roosevelt and Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt, both of whom are serving upon the present parish 
vestry. 

At a Vestry meeting on January 13, 1901, the following 
"minute" was voted to be placed upon the records of the parish : 

"It is our sad but heartfelt privilege to offer our sincere tri- 
bute of respect to the memory of our late associate, the Senior 
^Yarden of the parish, Mr. James Roosevelt. No long and 
elaborate eulogy would be suitable for him, who in such a 
modest and retiring way, gave much of his time to the interests 
of this parish, but a brief expression of loving appreciation may 
not seem inappropriate. 

Born of honorable lineage, he wrought out with singular 
fidelity those traits of character which constitute a useful and 
dignified life. Mr. Roosevelt was one of the first lay members 
of the Duchess Convocation, now the Archdeaconry of Duch- 
ess, and always afterwards continued to act as representative 
of this parish in that body. He was for more than forty years 
a Vestryman and Warden of Saint James Church, and at the 
time of his death was one of its delegates to the Diocesan Con- 
vention. 

An upright Christian man, full of kindness and helpfulness 
he adorned the doctrine of Christ our Saviour, by a consistent 
walk and holy life. 

He is sadly missed in the church which he so faithfully served 
but our sore trial of separation is mingled with the comforting 
assurance that he rests in Paradise." 

"Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord". 

ARCHIBALD ROGERS* 

Vestryman 1882. Junior Warden 1894-1901 
Senior Warden 1901- 
Archibald Rogers, son of Edmund Pendleton and Virginia 
(Dummer) Rogers was born in Jersey City, on February 22, 
1852. He is a grandson of ArchibaUl and Anna Pierce (Pen- 
•See plate facing page 30. 



46 Historical Notes of 

dleton) Rogers, his grandmother being the daughter of Nathan- 
iel and Susannah (Bard) Pendleton, the latter a sister of Dr. 
Samuel Bard, therefore church building and fostering is a 
natural inheritance of his blood. He was educated as a 
Mechanical Engineer in the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale 
University in the class of 1873. 

Before graduation, for practical experience he served an ap- 
prenticeship in the Rogers Locomotive Works in Paterson, 
N. J., and the following year went around the Horn to China 
and return as Assistant Engineer on the City of Tokio. He was 
engaged in constructive engineering on the D., L. and W. 
tunnel, and later also on railway construction in Wisconsin, 
where the first year of his married life was spent, making a 
home and headquarters in Milwaukee. He was married May 
11, 1880, in Saint Bartholomews church. New York, to Anne 
Caroline Coleman, only daughter of William and Susan Ellen 
(Habersham) Coleman of Cornwall, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Archi- 
bald Rogers rented Drayton House, a property south of the 
old Pendleton place, Placentia, where they lived until May, 
1889, when they moved into Crumwold Hall, south of the vil- 
lage. They purchased several adjoining places which were 
thrown together as Crumwold Farm. 

In partnership with a cousin Edmund Pendleton Livingston, 
he ran a ranch in Wyoming, which took him often West, and 
being a keen sportsman he had many a bear hunt in the Rocky 
Mountains. 

Mr. Rogers has been greatly interested in scientific forestry, 
a goodly part of the broad acres of Crumwold being wooded, 
and many tens of thousands of young trees having been set 
out on the place. He has been a leader in ice boating on the 
Hudson, his engineering skill coming into play, as all his boats 
are constructed from his own designs, and he has won a great 
number of trophies. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers keep an ever open 
house at Crumwold Hall, entertaining with most gracious and 
charming hospitality. As Senior Warden, Mr. Rogers has 
given a great deal of time and thought and money to the care 
of the church properties, and the beauty of the surroundings of 
the church in largely due to his thought and labor. 



S. J ame s C h u r ch 47 

EDMUND HENRY PENDLETON 

Junior Warden 1836-37, 1858-62 

Edmund Ilcnry Pendleton was the eldest son of Nathaniel 
Pendleton. He lived at Hyde Park, Duchess County, New 
York, and eventually filled his father's place as an attorney at 
the bar in Pou^hkeepsie. On January 16, 1830, he was elected 
County Judge of Duchess County, and he held that position 
ten years. He was a Representative in Congress for New York 
State 1831-1833. He married Frances Maria Jones, daughter 
of John Jones of New York. In the year 1836 he went to 
Europe and after his return spent the remainder of his life 
principally at Hyde Park and in New York City. He died on 
February io, 186'-2, without issue. 

DAVID JOHNSTON 

Vestryman 1845. Junior Warden 1850-1858 

David Johnston, a son of Judge John and Susannah (Bard) 
Johnston, was born in Hyde Park at "Bellefield," now owned 
by Mr. Thomas Newbold, on August '20, 1812. In early child- 
hood he had a severe fall, which crippled one side of his body. 
This unfitted him for active life, consequently he occupied 
himself with the care of the placo having at one time a nursery 
of young trees. He also developed quite an artistic taste, 
cutting cameos with great success. He died, unmarried, 
January 23, 187'2. 

NATHANIEL PENDLETON ROGERS 

Nathaniel Pendleton Rogers, late of Hyde Park, Duchess 
County, New York, was born April 29, 1822, at the house of 
his grandfather, Moses Rogers, Number 7 State Street, New 
York City. In his early life he practised law in New York, 
and in 1849 he married Miss Emily Moulton. After a number 
of years he retired from the active practice of the law in New 
York and spent his summers at his country place at Hyde Park 
on Hudson, which had been purchased by Mr. Rogers' grand- 
father, Nathaniel Pendleton, who named it "Placentia". Mr. 
Rogers' father, Archibald Rogers, married in the year 1820 



48 Historical Notes of 

Anna Pierce Pendleton, a daughter of Nathaniel, and Susan 
(Bard) Pendleton. The latter was a daughter of Dr. John 
Bard, Nathaniel Pendleton Rogers was the eldest son, and his 
brothers and sisters were Julia Ann; Archibald, who died in 
1831; Edmund Pendleton; Philip Clayton; Archibald, who 
died in 1836; and Susan Bard Rogers, who became the wife of 
Herman T. Livingston. Mr, Rogers was a grandson of Moses 
Rogers, an old time merchant of New York, who was born in 
1750 and died in 1825. Moses Rogers was one of the founders 
of Grace Church, New York. He married Sarah Woolsey and 
had four children, one of whom was Archibald Rogers, the 
father of Nathaniel Pendleton Rogers. Mr. Rogers' maternal 
grandfather was Nathaniel Pendleton. (See page 36.) 

Nathaniel Pendleton Rogers died on April 22, 1892, leaving 
him surviving his eldest son, Henry Pendleton Rogers, who 
married Mary Shillito of Cincinnati, Ohio; his daughters Anna 
Pendleton Fuller, the wife of Charles D. Fuller of New York; 
and Elizabeth M. Rawson, the wife of Edward Stephen Raw- 
son of Cincinnati, Ohio; and two other sons, Nathaniel P. 
Rogers, who married Katharine Witherspoon; and John Bard 
Rogers, who married Daisy F. Wells. There are numerous 
grandchildren and also several great grandchildren. A daugh- 
ter of Nathaniel Pendleton Rogers, Frances Maria Rogers, 
predeceased her father, having died at the age of eleven years, 
on the third day of May, 1867. 

SAMUEL BRAMAN SEXTON 

Vestryman 1893. Warden 1901-1903 

Samuel Braman Sexton, son of Samuel John Mills and Caro- 
line (Braman) Sexton was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 19, 
1869. The family removed to Hyde Park in 1870, where he 
was educated by private tutors and at Colonel Lester's School 
in Poughkeepsie. He entered Columbia Law School in 1886, 
but was forced by reason of ill health to leave after completing 
the second year of the course. He traveled extensively in 
Europe hoping to regain his health. He died in Augusta, 
Georgia, April 19, 1903. 




AMI i;i, H1{\M\\ SKXroN. 



.'>. ./ a 77? e s Church 40 

S. NICHOLSON KANE* 

Vestryman 18J)0. Junior Warden 1903-1906 

S. Nicholson Kane, son of DeLancey and Louisa (Langdon) 
Kane, grandson of Walter and Dorothea (Astor) Langdon, 
and nephew of Walter Langdon, Jr., owners of "Hyde Park," 
whose graves are in S. James churchyard, lived at 23 West 47th 
Street, New York, but he spent much of his time with his 
uncle at Hyde Park during the last eight years of the hitter's 
life, so naturally becoming interested in the old parish church, 
and a member of its vestry. He was born on July 2, 1846, 
and died November 15, 1906. He entered the U. S. Naval 
Academy in 1862 and graduated at the head of his class, being 
also Adjutant of the Academy. After a cruise in the West 
Indies, he became personal aide to Admiral Farragut on the 
Flagship Franklin, visiting European courts with him. Re- 
signing from the navy, he went to England and entered Cam- 
bridge University. After graduation he returned home and en- 
tered the Albany Law School, from which he graduated in 1874 
as valedictorian of the class and was admitted to the bar. Soon 
afterwards his old taste for the navy showed itself in his in- 
terest in yachting, and as owner of the yacht Restless he be- 
came Commodore of the New York Yacht Club. For many 
years he was chairman of the Regatta Committee, which car- 
ried to success so many of the international competitions for 
the American Cup. At the breaking out of the Spanish War 
he offered himself to the government and was assigned to duty 
on the Saint Paul, and was highly commended in official des- 
patches. He was always greatly interested in the affairs of the 
Church, serving many years as a vestryman of S. Clements 
Parish, New York, serving also for many years as a member of 
the Standing Committee of the Diocese, and also as Vice- 
President of The Church Clul). He was particularly interested 
in the National Geographical Society, and in the various polar 
expeditions. Mr. Kane's intellectual e(|uipment for life had 
been broad, whicli added to personal (jualities of character, 

♦See plato facing page 02. 



50 Historical Notes of 

naturally gave to his career a broad and varied usefulness. 
To him nothing was alien that concerned the well being of his 
country, his state, or his city, and he was unfaltering in his 
devotion to his church. 



JOHN HOPKINS 
Vestryman 1891. Junior Warden 1906- 

John Hopkins, son of Dr. William Harrison and Jemima 
(Van Benschoten) Hopkins was born July 8, 1845, in the town 
of La Grange of old Duchess county stock. His mother was 
a descendant of that Theunis Eliasen Van Benschoten, who is 
found at Esopus in 1671, being the head of the family in this 
country. His father was village doctor from 1870 to 1890, 
during which years he also conducted the village drug store, 
which business the son today continues. 

Mr. Hopkins has been postmaster since 1897 under four 
administrations. He has been treasurer of the parish for 
twenty -two years and has represented the parish in the diocesan 
council with continued regularity. He is one of the men who 
quitely do a large share of the world's work without the fact 
being realized by half of their neighbors. 



THE PRESENT VESTRY 

Archibald Rogers, Senior Warden John Hopkins, Junior Warden 

In Order of Seniority of Election 

James Roosevelt Roosevelt. Henry Myers. 

Elbridge T. Gerry. Ellsworth Martin Crapser. 

James Henry Horrocks. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

Gerald Livingston Hoyt. Edmund Pendleton Rogers. 




.lnil\ IKM'KIN- 



S. J a m c i>- C h u r c h 



51 



VESTRYMEN 

The dates of first election only are given, as many served 
broken terms, a few years of service, an interval (probably of 
absence in New York) and again years of service. 

For convenience names are ordered alphabetically rather 
than in chronological order. 



Allen, Benjamin, 1819 

Allen, Theudore, 1838 

Bard, Sanuiel, 1812 

Banl, 'William, 1812 

Broome, William, 1812 

Butler, Elias, 1845 

Carter, Israel M., 1855 

Collins, David Jr., 1835 
Cowman, Augustus Thomas, 1837 

Crapser, Ellsworth Martin, 1904 

Dobbs, Benjamin Burroughs 1875 

Duer, William Alexander, 1812 

Button, Titus, 1812 

Emmet, William C, 1846 

Fuller, Dudley B., 1843 

Gerry, Elbridge T., 1894 

Hale, Elisha 1832 

Henderson, John, 1822 

Hinchman, John, 1830 

Hinchman, "William, 1828 

Holbrook, Ephraim, 1829 

Hopkins, John, 1891 

Hopkins, William Harrison, 1878 

Horrocks, James Henry, 1900 

Hosaek, David, 1835 

Howard, Thomas Howard, 1899 

Hoyt, Gerald Livingston, 1901 

Hoyt, Henry Sheaff, 1889 

Hughes, Brooks, 1852 

Hughes, Christ<)i)her 2d, 1812 

Hughes, Cliristopher 3d, 1850 

Hughes, Miles, 1871 

Johnston, David, 1845 

Johnston, John, 1812 

Johnston, Francis I'ljlon, 18(!7 



Jones, James I., 1856 

Kane, S. Nicholson, 1890 

Kneeland. Henry, 1830 

Laight, William E., 1830 

Langdon, Walter Jr., 1847 

Livingston, James Duane, 1812 

LivingstgH, Mat>urin, 1839 

Livingston, Maturin, 1807 

Lowndes, Rawlins, 1875 

Mosher, Nathan R., 1855 

Myers, Henry, 1901 

Newhold, Thomas N., 1878 

Northrup, Charles W., 1875 

Pendleton, Edmund H., 1822 

Pendleton, Edmund H., 1857 

Pendleton, Nathaniel, 1812 

Rogers, Archibald, 1st, 1839 

Rogers, Archibald, 2d, 1882 

Rogers, Edmund Pendleton, 1000 

Rogers, Henry Pendleton, 1892 

Rogers, James, 1813 

Rogers, Nathaniel Pendleton 1808 

Rooseveh, Franklin Delano, 1900 

Roo.sevelt, James, 1858 

Roosevelt, James Roosevelt, 1879 

Roosevelt. Jolm A., 1889 

Russell, Lsaae, 1815 

Russell. James. 1828 

Sexton, Samuel B., 1893 

Sherrill. Hunting, 1820 

Speneer. Reui)en, 1815 

Vanwart, H., 1850 

Van Vliet, Cornelius Jr., 1845 

Van Vliet. James R.. 1850 

Woodworth, William W., 1837 



5^2 HistoricalNotesof 

AUGUSTUS THOMAS COWMAN 

Vestryman 1837 
Born 1814; died September 12, 1854 

The following notices give estimate of the labors and gifts 
of this devoted servant of the parish, whom we have styled 
the second Dr. Bard. 

For a long time a member of Christ's Mystical Body, Mr, 
Cowman was a thorough churchman of the old school, sound, 
intelligent, and devoted. He showed his faith by his works. 
For many years a prominent member of the Vestry of S. 
James Church, he was ever forward and active in all measures 
adopted for the welfare and prosperity of the Parish. He was 
noble and generous in all acts of benevolence, — and blessed, at 
the time of rebuilding our little church, a few years since, with, 
as he supposed, abundance of means, he liberally applied them 
to this holy purpose. He bore at least one-half of the expense 
of this beautiful and church-like edifice. In his death the 
Parish has lost one of its most willing and liberal supporters — 
while the poor, the sick, and the afflicted will long and grate- 
fully remember his many acts of kindness, his ever-willing 
heart and outstretched hand, to help, cheer, and comfort them 
in their distress. Strong in the true faith, and relying entire- 
ly on the mercies of God, through Jesus Christ, he dies in peace; 
and he rests, we trust, in the paradise of God, where in joy and 
felicity he waits the consummation of his bliss, at the general 
resurrection at the last day. 

"At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestrymen of S. James 
Church, Hyde Park, on September 3, 1846, the following pre- 
amble and resolutions offered by Elias Butler, Esq., were unan- 
imously adopted: 

Whereas, at a meeting of the Wardens and Vestrymen of 
S. James Church, Hyde Park, on the 8th day of August, 1844, 
James Russell, Augustus T. Cowman and William E. Laight, 
Esq., were appointed a committee, with full powers, to repair 
the church edifice, and to borrow, on the bond of the corpora- 
tion, whatever money might be necessary for that purpose. — 




AUGISI I S lll().MA> (OWMAN. 



S. J a m c s C h u r c h 53 

Whereas, the said committee, on examining the building 
and after obtaining the opinions of experienced mechanics, as 
may be seen by their report on the minutes of the Vestry, 
thought it inexpedient to attempt any repairs on the old church 
and resolved to erect a new one. 

Whereas, the said committee have, by the voluntary 
and generous subscriptions of members and other friends of the 
Parish, rendered sufficient by their own exemplary liberality 
erected and completed the new church edifice; therefore 

Re.solved, That the Vestry of S. James Church do ap- 
prove of the course pursued by their committee, in rebuilding 
the Church. 

Resolved, That the thanks of the Vestry are due, and 
are hereby given said committee, for the energy, liberality 
and good taste, with which they have discharged the trust 
committed to them. 

Resolved, That the Rector be requested to present a copy 
of the foregoing resolutions to each member of the committee. 

Resolved, That the Rector be requested to procure some 
suitable architectural work, to be presented by him in the name 
and behalf of the Vestry of S. James Church, to A. T. Cow- 
man, Esci., as a testimonial of the sense entertained by tliis 
corporation, of his great kindness, unremitted exertions, and 
singular lil)erality, in drawing the plans, superintending the 
erection and bringing to so happy a completion our beautiful 
Church. 

Resolved, That the Rector be authorized to draw on the 
Treasurer for the money necessary to carry the above resolu- 
tion into effect. 

And now. My dear Sir, entirely sympathizing with the Ves- 
try, in the above expression of their gratitude to you, and for 
the reasons there stated, I have great pleasure in complying 
with their direction and requesting your acceptance of this 
work* which, it is hoped, will prove interesting to you, as an 
amateur architect, and serve, as a keepsake, occasionally to 
remind you, and yours, of past scenes, of the good will of tl.c 

♦Weale's Papers on Architecture. 



54 H is tor ic al N ote s of 

Vestry of S. James Church, and especially of your friend, the 
Rector. 

Augustus T. Cowman, Esq. R. Sherwood. 

Advent Season, 1846. 

THE ORGANISTS 

The first organist of the parish was a daughter of Judge 
John Johnston who volunteered her services. We have no 
record of others who gave their services during succeeding 
years until it became the custom of the parish to employ an 
organist on salary. 

Tradition reports that Miss Sherwood played for some 
years, and also that the Misses Eliza Matilda and Susan Maria 
Cowman served in the same capacity. 

On May 9, 1840, the vestry by resolution thank"Miss Parker 
for the aid she had so long afforded in leading our choir", and 
in 1846 they also thank Mr. James Van Vliet for forming and 
leading the choir, and make him the grant of a pew. 

ELIZABETH A. DROM, Organist 1859-1874, was born in 
Rhinebeck, N. Y., in the year 1831. Her parents were Luther- 
ans and she was brought up in that church. In 1836 the fami- 
ly moved to Poughkeepsie where she was educated, and where 
she sang in the choir of S. Pauls Church. Later the family 
removed to Albany where she studied both piano and organ, 
having several engagements as organist before the family came 
to Hyde Park in 1859, occupying the house which is now the 
parish rectory. She was confirmed by Bishop Whittingham, 
acting for the Bishop of the Diocese in the class of 1859. Dur- 
ing most of her life in Hyde Park she was organist at both 
church and chapel. She also taught in the parish school, and 
there are many now living in the village who were her pupils. 
On June 26, 1874, she married Mr. George Van Voorihas, and 
moved to Castleton-on-Hudson where her husband died in 1900. 

In 1907 she entered S. Lukes Home for the Aged in New 
York City, where she died August 9, 1912. Though infirm, 
she retained her faculties to the last, and had been much in- 
terested in the Centennial Anniversary and was full of remin- 
iscences of the parish which she loved. 



S. James Church 65 

JOHN FRANCIS GERMOND, Organist 1874-1909, was 
born in Hyde Park, August 17, 1856. 

His musical talent developed very early, so that in the year 
1874, at the age of nineteen, he was chosen organist of the par- 
ish. In October, 1891, he entered the Metropolitan College 
of Music and graduated with honors in June, 1893, with the de- 
gree of M. C. M. 

As a pupil of Dr. Wm. Mason, Dudley Buck, and Albert 
Ross Parsons, Mr. Germond represented the best in the musi- 
cal culture of America. As a teacher of music he was most 
thorough striving to stimulate a high ambition and musical 
taste in the minds of his pupils. 

During the years 1897-1898 he was Vice-President of the 
New York State Music Teachers Association. In his tran- 
scriptions and original compositions which were chiefly for 
church use he showed a scholarly intelligence and fine musical 
sensibility. He fulfilled many commissions which added to 
his reputation. 

He was not only zealous in his professional duties as organist 
and choirmaster, but was a devoted son of the church, deeply 
interested in parish activities. It was his great pleasure to 
gather and arrange flowers for the altar. He was always to 
the fore in connection with the Christmas tree, Sunday School 
picnics and the like. He gave much time to the management 
of a boys' club. By his death, on October 16, 1909, the parish 
lost a most devoted servant and a true interpreter of the ritual 
of the church. 

Mr. Percy Barnes served as organist in the interval after 
Mr. Germond's death. 

SAMUEL PRUYN FLAGLER, the present organist, is a 
son of Dr. John Ostrom and Christina (Van Vleck) Flagler. His 
father was City Physician of Albany for fourteen years, and 
having a fine tenor voice he was for many years leader of the 
choir of Saint Peters Church, Albany, while Dr. Horatio 
Potter, later Bishop of New York, was rector. Samuel Flagler 
was born in Albany September 2^2, 1846. His musical training 
was received from his elder brothers, Edgar Ostrom Flagler, 



56 Historical Notes of 

and Isaac Van Vleck Flagler, the latter a composer of consider- 
able note. His first position as organist was at Saint Pauls, 
Poughkeepsie, from which church he went to the Holy Com- 
forter, playing there for twenty -six years, while Dr. Crary was 
rector of the parish. He came to Saint James in October, 1910. 



THE SEXTONS 

RICHARD JENKINS, Sexton 1822-1857, according to the 
entry in the parish register at the time of his Baptism, Decem- 
ber 20, 1829, was born about "1783". 

He married Nancy Lewis of whom were born twelve chil- 
dren. The youngest, and last surviving Mrs. Catherine 
(Jenkins) Carl is still living in the parish and was confirmed at 
the centennial anniversary. 

Richard died on September 14, 1857, and Dr. Stringfellow 
has a note in the parish register "Forty years Sexton of St. 
James Church," though a note in the treasurer's book states 
that he began work May 1, 1822. It is quite possible that prior 
to that date he had done the duties, though not employed by 
the year. Nancy, his wife, laundered the surplices and linen. 

HARRY ANTHONY became sexton in 1857 and served 
until 1866. 

CHARLES RICCO became sexton in 1866 and served until 

1872. 

JOHN McCURDY became sexton in 1872 and served until 
1878 

BENJAMIN BURROUGHS DOBBS, Sexton 1878, and still 
Emeritus, son of Peter Zachariah and Ruth (Burroughs) 
Dobbs, was born in the town of Hyde Park, two miles east of 
the village on November 23, 1824. When a lad of eleven he 
made his first essay at farm work under Dr. Benjamin Allen, 
from whom he learned some valuable lessons. His father 
wished him to have the trade of a shoemaker, which he learned 
against his taste and inclination. In January, 1847, he enUsted 



ip 




UK HARD .JK.NKINS. 



S. James C h u r ch 57 

in the army and followed General Scott throughout the Mexi- 
can war. 

On October 18, 1810, he married ^Nlary Clarissa Edwards, 
who died in 1884 without children. 

On March 2, 1854, he enlisted in the First Cavalry Dragoons, 
following Lieutenant Colonel Steptoe across the Continent, 
and he had five years of frontier service in Oregon and Wash- 
ington. After the death of his wife, his sister kept house for 
him in ITyde Park, and they adopted a girl, Bertha Lawrence 
Dobl)s, who married and went to California. 

In 1878 he became sexton of the church and continued in 
that duty until advancing years led him to retire, in 1900, 
though he still now and again delights to ring the church 
bell. He is a venerable and interesting figure in the parish, 
and seated by the open fire in the reading room, charms the 
younger generation with tales of army and frontier life. 

FREDERICK PERCY BARKER became sexton upon 
Mr. Dobbs' retirement from active duty in 1900 and served 
until lOO.'J. 

JOHN DELANCEY WICKER, the present sexton, entered 
upon his duties in 1903. He is a son of John Peter and Adeline 
(Baker) Wicker, having been born July 23, 1867. He was 
tr;iined as a florist and practical gardener, but considerations 
of health made it necessary for him to give up greeidiouse and 
all inside work, and he took this position as so large a part of 
his duties is the care of the churchyard. He married Septem- 
ber 1, 1888, Antoinette Pultz Schryver. 




l<i;\.I \\ll\ HI 1{|{(»I (ills DOHMS. 



S. James C h u r c h 59 

THE 

CHURCHYARD 

AND 

GOD'S ACRE 

THE 
MEMORIAL TABLETS 

AND 

WINDOWS 



Dr. Samuel Bard gave the ground for the Church which in- 
cluded a knoll where were buried the bodies of some of his kin. 
Dr. Hosack later gave ground north of the Church for the rec- 
tory. The acreage has been still further increased by gifts 
of land from Mr. Walter Langdon, and Mr. PVederick W. 
Vanderbilt, and in 1910 a fine stonewall was built at a cost of 
six thousand dollars, on three sides of the God's Acre, leaving 
the roadway frontage without fencing. 

The bodies of many men and women, notable in days past 
for Christlike traits of personal character, for usefulness in 
public service, and some of them illustrious in civil and social 
life, lie in the hallowed ground of this beautiful spot, while the 
walls of the church within are so covered with memorial tablets, 
that one has called Saint James, the Westminster Abbey of 
this section of the State. 



60 HistoricalNotesof 

In addition to the tablets reproduced in plates following, there are 
on the walls of the church memorial tablets to the following persons, 
some of which it was impossible to photograph clearly. 



Qiaturin LitJinff0ton 

1768-1847 

Q^argaret 

WIFE OF MATURIN LIVINGSTON 
ONLY CHILD OF MORGAN LEWIS 

1780-1800 

arcfiitialD Uogets— anna pierce penDleton 

1793-1850 1797-1883 

MARRIED MAY 18, 1820 

Batolius; ICob3nDe0— 0emuDe Liuinpton 

1801-1897 1803-1883 

Julia ILitiin00ton LotonDes 

WIFE OF WILLIAM JAMES 

1829-1875 

jFtance0 ^aria penUleton 

DAUGHTER OF JOHN JONES 
WIFE OF EDMUND HENRY PENDLETON 

1800-1870 

Q^atudn iLit)ins0ton 

GRANDSON OF MORGAN LEWIS 

1816-1888 

Qiatp iLiiifng0ton iLotunDe0 

1831-1893 

5)entp ^l)eaff !E)opt 

1853-1900 




TlIK CIMKC IIVAHD LOOKING SOlTll WKS'I" 




IIIK cm UCII^Ain) l,0()KI\(. >OI rilKAST. 



S. J a 171 c s C h u r ch oi 



IN MEMORY OF 

limnimm ©arD 

BORN APRIL 4, 1778 DIED OCTOBER 17, 1853 

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED AS A TRIBUTE 

OF 

FILIAL REVERENCE TO A FATHER, 

WHO FAITHFUL TO DUTY, WARM AND CONSTANT 

IN FRIENDSHIP AND DISTINGUISHED 

FOR 

LOVING KINDNESS AND GENTLE COURTESY, 
SUSTAINED HIMSELF AMIDST THE URGENCIES 

OF 

MANHOOD WITH INTEGRITY UNSHAKEN 

AND 

WITH HONOR UNBLEMISHED, DYING AS HE HAD 

LIVED IN THE COMMUNION OF THE CHURCH 

AND IN THE FAITH AND LOVE OF CHRIST. 

FIDETE VIRTUTI 



Note— It was found impossible to photograph the Wm. Bard Tablet. 
The inscription is given above. 



62 Historical Notes o 

THE MEMORIAL WINDOWS 

The six memorial windows bear the following inscriptions: 



IN HONOR OF GOD 

AND TO THE 

PIOUS MEMORY 

OF 

(j^eorge IBlucelanH 

WHO DEPARTED IN THE FAITH 

ANNO DOM. 1850. AGED 36 

MAY GOD HAVE MERCY 

Fanny his wife caused this window to be set up. 



IN MEMORY OF 

miut !&♦ IButlet, q^^D. 

ERECTED BY THE MEMBERS 

OF 

ST. JAMES CHURCH 



TO THE MEMORY 

OF 

Eeutien ^ftertoooD. D.D* 

WHO WAS FOR 
21 YEARS THEIR RECTOR 




M( ll(»l.>()\ KWlv 




j iJijijt^ jtSis- £,f.°».r.f 




TO nt.rnHO 

• he tir(iti>ii« lilr 

•mil iiDili'ii ilctih 

»< 

.>n<i 

^1 Mitiv B.iitu. 

«liip .il'dr <t iiniou 
..1 nil* oil.- 1.-.,iN 

Mlllk <ll lf\». 
M'|l.>l .Kril hill .1 ll,l> 

I Ills ttuitr 

%\ III. ).'ii ii« 

ii.tii i..i..,,,.,i iiiii,i,,.„ 

Ul III... |'i,.|>. 

it.i. ri.iM.i. 

•I In.) I.% iImii X.'..I 

...Iu>i.,-.i 



I.. It.... I 



•I"- 



■ill, \ I Ml » / 



' In loving inemory of 

FRANCIS UPTON JOHNSTON, M. D. 

of New York, 
died J*.x.uary VM 16G8, a^ed 61 years. 
son ofJudf^r Johmton of Bf lief ield, Hyde Park. 
and grandMizi of Sunuiel Bard, M. D. 
Al«o of hi» noil ■*■ 



"/" itjtit' 



THIS MO.Vl 'ME.XT 

ia Erected, to th« .Heuaory oi 

%B^"VATHAxVIEL PEVDLETO.^ ... 

a Native of V/.RC J.VJA . 

'who nerved his Cuunt3*y 
in hi« youth 
with fidelity ajid eouragjr- &» a Soldi«r. 
., ^^ (Lnd in hix riprr a^f- 

'ii'^V^! ^^Hvi'itjb inte^tty and leamin<x a» a Ma'jmtrwJr j 
Ilavi'nj^ retired from the cure* ot" lilV 
;md in the full p<»o<*e<>Mion of hti* he^Jth'-f )A<-ultir<> 
Mix litV was trrmiuaccd 
by a fatal ur.t'idrac 

at Hyde Park. 

O.tobrr aO'.*" IHlil; 

In th«* aii'* year of hi» a<^e. 



»•' 



X - - 



-;tr:^v 



-i- • — 




born Doe b" I'Jfj'' 
'or'.fivi- yen ■ . 

r ir -MiH »i vKe throioh - 
:n/w I dnow in p4ri ii^.i iK 



.^s— Uf' 



HOBERTJ AMES LIV INGSTON 

S MATURIN -AND- MARGARET l i., : 

crandsonofmorganlewb 

born-december- 11 1811 . 
a-trustee-cf- thechildren's -aid - society 
0f-th£-h0me-f0r-1ncurabl£s 
and-president-ofthesocietyofihenewyor:<-hcs? 

loved-honcredand-reyered 
after-a-lifedevoted-toactsofcharity-and-me> 
he-entered lireeternal february 22- 1831 

hischildren have erected this:.: 



S. James Church QS 



TO THE MEMORY 

OF 

3lame0 J. 3lone0 

DIED AT BASLE. SWITZERLAND 
SEPT. 3d, 1858 



IN MEMORY 

OF 



€DmunD IE). penDIeton 

DIED FEB. 2,3, 1862 
AGED 74 YEARS 



GIVING THANKS TO GOD 
FOR THE BELOVED MEMORY 

OF 

3lamc0 Roo0euclt 

JULY 16, 1828 DEC. 8, 1900 



64 HistoricalNoiesof 

THE CENTENARY SERVICES 

October, 1911, was allowed to pass without notice of the Cen- 
tenary other than the printing of an article, prepared by Miss 
Leonora Sill Ashton from her father's historical notes, in the 
Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier of October 8. This was due 
to Dr. Ashton's death, and the fact that the vestry did not 
wish to undertake a celebration while the parish had no rector. 

At the vestry meeting on March 11, 1912, it was determined 
to observe a belated centenary on October 12, and 13, 1912, 
and committees were appointed to carry out the proposals. 
(See Note page 5.) 

On Saturday, October 12, at six a.m., the Rector celebrated 
the Holy Communion, fourteen persons being present and re- 
ceiving the Sacrament. At eight-thirty a.m., the Rev. Frederick 
Turner Ashton, son of the late Rector, was celebrant at a sec- 
ond service when fifteen persons made their communions. 

At ten-thirty a.m., parishioners and friends and descend- 
ants of families connected with the parish in 1811 and later, 
gathered to the number of one hundred and fifty. 

Of clergy there were present the Reverend Edwin E. Butler 
of Morristown, N. J. (son of Elias Butler, Esq., and son-in- 
law of Dudley B. Fuller Esq., both vestrymen for many years), 
the Reverend Frederick Turner Ashton, the Reverend George 
Bailey Hopson, D.D. (whose wife was a granddaughter of 
Judge John Johnston of the first vestry), the Reverend 
Frank Heartfield, who had officiated frequently after Dr. 
Ashton's death; the Reverend Edward Clowes Chorley, of 
Garrison; the Reverend Richard Clinton Searing, of West 
Park; the Reverend James C. Elliott, of Newburgh; the 
Reverend Frederick Ernest Whitney, of Newburgh; the Rev- 
erend H. Curtis Fichen, Pastor of the Dutch Reformed 
Church of Hyde Park; and the Reverend Joseph White 
Naramore, Pastor of the Methodist Church of Hyde Park, 
with the rector. 

A procession was formed at the vestry room door led by the 
clergy, the present vestrymen following, behind whom came 
the choir with Mr. Harold Stambaugh, of Poughkeepsie cornet- 



S. J a m c .s' r h u r r h 



65 



ist, wlio led the sinf>in<i, the congrej^ation following. Beside 
the inarching column were hoys hearing haskets of flowers 
which were used for the decoration of graves. Messrs. Elmer 
Oakley Wigg and Cecil Hugh IIalj)in acted as ushers. The 
choir at this and other services of the Festival consisted of the 
following persons, Mr. Samuel Pruyn Flagler being organist 
who had been assisted in the preparation of the music by Mr. 
Harry Schoudel Bock of Poughkeepsie. 



THE CHOIR 



THE MISSES 

Laura Baker 
Blanclie EiisalK-th Bilyoii 
Alice Trent Briggs 
Lillian Franipton 
Anna Belle Jones 
Alice Enuna KKhiey 
Grace Maud Killiner 
Aduella Elvira Killiner 
Maiul Briggs Minphy 
Clara Deiniv Traver 



THE MESSRS. 



Douglas Martyn Crapser 
Arthur Sterling Halpiii 
Sanuiel Wood Ho\er 
Levi Sterling Hover 
Ernest Thomas Killmer 
Irving Peter Kilhner 
Horace Freeman Masten 
Henry Myers 
Charles Clement Ward 
Henrv Albert Wicker 



The hymns sung were number 418, "O God our help in ages 
past, our hope for years to come"; number 301, "Let Saints 
on Earth in concert sing with those whose work is done"; 
number 399, "Lights abode, celestial Salem"; number 414, 
"Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah"; number 397, "Oh, what 
the joy and the glory must be, those endless Sabbaths the bless- 
ed ones see"; number 243, "On the resurrection morning soul 
and body meet again"; and nuniber 393, "Lo, what a cloud of 
witnesses encompass us around". 

Halts wer<^ made at the grouj) of graves surrounding that of 
Dr. Samuel Bard and Mary Bard his wife, near which lies the 
body of Dr. McVickar the first rector, where prayers were said, 
and at the grave of General Morgan Lewis near which lie the 
bodies of Samuel Roosevelt Johnson, Reuben Sherwood and 
Amos Turner Ashton, fornuT rectors, where concluding prayers 
and the benediction were s;ii(l. 



66 Historical N otes oj 

By this time the morning train from New York had arrived 
bringing the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese, the Venerable 
Wm. H. Pott, Archdeacon of Westchester, the Rev. St urges 
Allen, Father Superior of the Order of the Holy Cross (a de- 
scendant of both the Allen and Fuller families), the Reverend 
Samuel Smith Mitchell of Trinity Parish, New York, and many 
more friends and descendants of former parishioners, making a 
congregation of two hundred and twenty-six persons, of 
whom forty received the Blessed Sacrament. 

Bishop Greer celebrated the Holy Communion, with the Rev. 
Edwin E. Butler serving as Gospeler, and the Rev. Frederick 
Turner Ashton as Epistoler. Adlam's Service in F was sung, 
with Gounod's "Praise ye the Father" as the anthem, and the 
hymns were numbers 491, "The Church's one foundation," 
417, "0 God of Bethel, by Whose hand Thy people still are 
fed", 453, "Praise to the Holiest in the height", 484, "We love 
the place, O God, wherein Thine honor dwells", and Stephen's 
Te Deum in C was sung as a hymn of praise in place of the 
Gloria in Excelsis. 

At the conclusion of the Service, Bishop Greer took a seat at 
the chancel steps, and the rector made announcement that 
no historical sermon had been preached because of the volume 
of material which would appear in this book, and because of the 
desire to make the celebration chiefly a devotional function of 
praise and thanksgiving. He then read the following letter 
from Dr. Cady, who by reason of the infirmities of his eighty- 
five years was not present. 

Ridgefield, Conn. 
September 25, 1912. 

My Dear Mr. Newton: 

I am much obliged to you for your letter of recent date, and 

for the renewed kind invitation you extend to me, asking me to 

be present at the interesting services in commemoration of the 

Consecration, one hundred years ago, of the Church in Hyde 

Park. 

I do wish I could be with you and with your parishioners on 

that occasion : but my physical infirmities will not permit me 

to follow my inclination. 
As to my writing a paper of reminiscences, I have given the 

matter a good deal of thought, and find that if I once begin I 




i'iiii.\\i)i;i! Kiwi'A ( .\l)^ 



S. J a m e s C It ur c li 67 

could not escape writing //( crinifio. I should begin of course, 
with the Father of the Rev. Mr. Butler. He was one of the 
noblest men I have ever met, a man of the highest principles, a 
devoted Churchnum and a devout Christian, of fine presence 
and courtly manners, in who.se ho.sjjitahle home I was entertain- 
ed for at least a fortnight upon my coming to Hyde Park as 
Rector. Then, I should have to dilate upon the names of the 
other members of the \'estry, such as Mr. James Roosevelt, 
Mr. N. P. Rogers, and others, of Mr. and Mrs. Langdon, of the 
Lowndes family, of Mrs. Hoyt and of ISIr. Hughes. Senior War- 
den. I would also have to mention the names of later friends, 
Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Rogers, Mrs. Newbold and her chil- 
dren, of Dr. Hopkins, and many others. Among these latter 
I might name Mr. Dobbs, a man for whom I have the highest 
respect, and great gratitude for his services as a faithful work- 
man for a term of years both as Sexton of the Church and in my 
employment on the Rectory grounds. The organist, during 
my incumbency, was Mr. John Germond, known, I surmise, 
to most of those who will l)e present at your commemorative 
celebration. He was a very accomplished musician, and so de- 
voted to his work that I repeatedly failed to induce him to 
spend a Sunday in New York, that he might hear the music in 
Trinity Church, and in other churches with highly trained 
choirs. And, further, he soon became an intimate personal 
friend, and I got to love him dearly. May his soul rest in 
peace! 

Besides these whom I have named, there were in the parish 
three or four individuals, men and women, now deceased, who, 
to use the familiar term, were "characters" — oddities in speech, 
in manner and in actions, who while never annoying me, were 
sources of great and constant amusement. What anecdotes of 
their amazing peculiarities I could relate! As you will per- 
ceive, my pai)er would run to an inordinate length. 

And now, I ask of you, my dear Mr. Newton, to explain to 
your assembled i)eoi)leand guests;//;,;/! am not with them, and 
why I cannot prepare such a sketch of my rectorate, as I would 
have to write if I once began its composition. 

My years, as Rector of the Parish, were very happy ones. I 
did not have a .solitary bit of trouble with the \'estry or with 
any members of the Congregation. All soon got to trust me 
and to co6perate with me. to ])ut in my hands all the funds I 
asked for, or was supposed to need without my soliciting 
them, for the work of the i)arish and for external charitalile 



68 HistoricalNotesof 

and religious objects. I had had larger parishes, but not one 
where everything moved so smoothly and eflBciently. I 
could narrate a curious story about my election as Rector of 
your parish; but I must forbear. 

I shall very gladly comply with your request for my poor 
prayers in behalf of the Class for Confirmation. I may add 
that in a table of Intercessory Prayer I have prepared for daily 
private use, on Mondays I always pray for S. James, as well 
as for the other parishes, I have served. 

Believe me very faithfully and appreciatively, your brother 
priest in the Great High-Priest, 

P. K. Cady. 

Portions of a letter from the Reverend George B. Johnson, 
son of the Reverend Samuel Roosevelt Johnson, D.D., who was 
unable to be present were read, as follows : 

"From my earliest childhood I have had associations with Hyde Park. 
I vividly remember my grandfather Judge Johnston, though I was not 
three years old when he died. After my uncle removed from Hyde 
Park, I used still to be there often when my brother-in-law Dr. Purdy, 
was Rector. It was a special pleasure to have spent the first summer of 
my diaconate at Hyde Park with Dr. Cady. Once a few years before 
my brother Allen's death we spent a day together at Hyde Park, went 
through the churchj'ard, noting the many graves of relatives, and said 
Evensong together in the Church." 

The following minute was read from the oflBcers of the Dutch 
Reformed Church of Hyde Park, whose organization antedated 
the establishment of S. James parish some twenty odd years, 
and with whom our people worshipped when they did not drive 
to Poughkeepsie to old Christ Church. 

To the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Saint James Parish, 
Hyde Park: 

At the regular monthly meeting of the Consistory, of the 
Reformed Church of Hyde Park, it was unanimously, 

Resolved, That we, as Pastor, Elders and Deacons mani- 
fest our fraternal affection and convey to you our sincerest 
congratulations upon the occasion of your hundredtli Anni- 
versary. 

We rejoice with you in your long existence under the guid- 
ance of the Holy Spirit. Honor with you the Grace of God, 




< llUlsroiMIKK 111 (.IIKS. :M. 



S. J a me s C h u r ch 69 

in making such a unique Centennial possiMe. Our prayer is, 
that your church may thrive in tlie future as it has in the past; 
prosper in everything pertaining to the Kingdom of God; and 
be blessed of the Only Wise God, our Father's God, our God, 
Who will be our Guide even unto death. 

Done in Consistory this -Ith day of October, 1912. 

H. Curtis Ficken, 
Benjamin H. Haviland, President. 

Clerk. 

The rector then read a cablegram from one of the vestrymen 
James Roosevelt Roosevelt, Esq., who was in Scotland, 
"Much regret absence. Best wishes." 

After the singing of hymn 472, "O Come, loud anthems let 
us sing," Mr. Edwin Barnes Hughes of Staatsburgh read the 
following sketch: 

It gives me great pleasure to say a few words at this time 
regarding the early history of S. Margarets of Staatsburgh, 
which as you all know is a child of S. James. Your fatherly 
care in our infancy led us along, and as we grew stronger, en- 
abled us to stand alone and become a parish. 

In the forties. Dr. Sherwood conducted evening services at 
the home of Isaac Russell, the Staatsburgh Postmaster, and 
later used the waiting-room of the railway station. 

In 1858 the frame chapel was built through the interest and 
liberality of Mrs. Margaret Lewis Livingston and others. At 
that time it was just the village chapel for any one desiring to 
hold services, and was also used for entertainments. Mr. Hoyt, 
the Presbyterian clergyman from Pleasant Plains, served in 
the winter, and Dr. Purdy in summer. Dr. Purdy also came 
for the Christmas service for the children, and was said to be 
one of the few men who could speak to children and interest 
them. The Methodists also had their weekly prayer meetings 
in the Chapel. 

Dr. Ziegenfuss from Rhinebeck served for some time while 
still in the Lutheran Church, and he was followed by Dr. Parks, 
now of S. Bartholomews, New York. Then came seminary 
students, and one winter a regular clergyman. 



70 Historical Notes oj 

The mission had been steadily growing, and the Methodists 
had built their own church, when Rev. Chas. L. Short was 
called as Curate to Dr. Cady and given charge of the work. 

Parish organization was effected April 15, 1882, and the 
Chapel was consecrated by Bishop Horatio Potter the same 
year. The cornerstone of the new stone church was laid in 
May, 1891, and it was consecrated by Bishop Henry C. Potter 
in October, 1808. The frame chapel is now the village library. 

I might say that my family has been very closely associated 
with S. James Parish from its beginning. My Great Grand- 
father, Christopher Hughes the second, being one of the origi- 
nal vestrymen, and my grandfather, Christopher Hughes, 3d, 
a vestryman for 44 years and warden 27 years. 

The bodies of most of ray family, including my three pater- 
nal grandfathers and my father, lie here in the churchyard. 
I am the last man of our line and I hope there may be room for 
me also. 

I think this celebration on the completion of your first cen- 
tury is most fitting and appropriate, and your Rector is de- 
serving of great credit for its successful carrying out. 

Let us hope that your two hundredth anniversary may be 
marked in this same auspicious manner. 

Bishop Greer then spoke words of counsel and congratula- 
tions to the congregation. 

At the conclusion of these exercises the congregation ad- 
journed to the churchyard, where upon a table were displayed 
some of the archives of the parish; the original subscription 
paper, which is reproduced after page 16, the deed to the prop- 
erty from Dr. Samuel Bard and Mary Bard, the Bible used 
prior to 1839, the folio Prayer Book and Bible of 1839, the 
Communion silver etc. Upon the table were also laid circular 
letters of greeting to Dr. Cady and Mrs. Amos Turner Ashton» 
which were signed by an hundred and fifty or more people, and 
for which letters of appreciation were received from Mrs. Ash- 
ton and Dr. Cady. The letter said in part, "I was completely 
overcome by the receipt of the paper sent to me. I cannot 
express my feelings of pleasure — my dissolving emotions — ■ 
when I read the opening lines of it, and next, the names ap- 









L/. 


■'-Wp^^v -^ 


ST •% riipi . »^Hb 




S:>' l^-""^ "'^ il^^^^^l 




If vB ^BB 


1 lljt^^ni^^^p^-^'^i 


^j 



l.WVOOD-^THK FIRST KECTORS HOME 




EDWARD I"I;aR>().\S NEUION. 



S. James C h u rch 71 

pended to them. \Vh<at memories these last evoked! What 
kindnesses they recalled, and what enduring impressions! 
Will you be good enough to convey my very sincere thanks for 

it". 

Later a memorial oak was planted on the site of the old 
rectory, Bishop Greer, the clergy, vestrymen, friends, great- 
grandchildren of first parishioners (including those of Dr. 
McVickar who set out an hundred years ago trees now of mas- 
sive size which adorn the lawn), all casting in a spadeful of 

earth. 

Open house was kept by all parishioners, and visiting friends 
were taken home to luncheon. 

During the afternoon a ball game was played on the village 
field between the Crumwold Hall and Vanderbilt nines, in 
which the latter were the victors. 

The Hon. Francis G. and Mrs. Landon held an afternoon tea 
from four to six at "Mansewood", originally "Inwood", the 
home of Dr. McVickar, built at the same time as the church 
and thus the first day of the celebration closed most auspiciously. 

Sunday again we were blessed with fine weather. Many of 
the clergy and friends had left, some remained. The Rev. 
^Ym. Thomas Manning, D.D., Rector of Trinity Church, New 
York, and the Rev. Richmond Herbert Gesner of Oswego, 
N. Y., rector from 1887 to 1890 had arrived to spend the second 
day with us. Morning Prayer was said at eight o'clock, fol- 
lowed by the Holy Communion, the Rev. R. H. Gesner being 
celebrant, nine persons receiving the Sacrament. 

At eleven o'clock a congregation of two hundred and ninety- 
five persons crowded the church to its utmost capacity, addi- 
tional seats being brought in and the vestryroom also being 
utilized. There were present in the chancel with the Bishop 
of the Diocese, Dr. Manning, the Reverend R. H. Gesner, the 
Reverend F. T. Ashton, the Reverend Frank Heart field and 
the rector, and the Reverend Roland Cotton Smith, D.D., 
rector of S. Johns Church, Washington, D. C, was seated with 
the congregation. Dr. Manning said the opening office of 
collects, after which Bishop Greer preached the sermon from 
Saint Matthew ii.S^l, "God is not the God of the do;id i)ut of 



72 



Historical N ote s of 



the living," a convincing sermon on immortality, expressing 
faith in the present state of life of our blessed dead, developing 
the evolutionary hypothesis beyond tlie limits of the grave and 
pointing the train of thought with special reference to this 
Centenary Anniversary. The hymns used at this service were 
numbers 509, "Soldiers of Christ arise"; 416, "A tower of 
strength our God doth stand;" 378, "Come, Thou Holy Spirit, 
Come"; 289, "Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire"; 505, "Fight 
the good fight with all thy might"; and 395, "Those Eternal 
bowers man hath never trod." 

The anthem was "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" 
by James Coleman. 

The rector presented forty-seven persons to receive the Lay- 
ing on of Hands, a large class as there had been no Confirma- 
tion in the parish since November 15, 1908. As the class of 
this Centenary Anniversary will be an historic one their names 
are here given. 



Aldrich, Elting Victor 
Baker, Laura 
Barrett, Daniel 

Archibakl Raymond 
Blakely, Anna Louise (De Groff) 
Carl, Catherine (Jenkins) 
Cudner, Estella 

Ethel 
De Groff, Arthur Sleight 

Grace Emelia(M'Cord) 
Henry Sleight 
Theodore Hopkins 
Deyo, Allen Ronald 

William Henry 
Foster, Edward Staring 

Percy 
Golden, John Watson 

Thomas 
Halpin, Arthur Sterling 

Cecil Hugh 
Horrocks, Gertrude May 
Laura Deyo 
Percival Samuel 



Hover, Levi Sterling 

Linwood Bond 
Howard, Elisabeth Stuj'vesant 

Thomas Howard 
Jackson, Herbert Ensign 
Jones, Anna Belle 

Ralph Lyman 
Kipp, Carlton George 
McCord, Mary Sleight (Wigg) 
Murphy, Genevieve 

Maud Briggs 
Myers, Ralph Willard 
Plain, Joseph 
Plog, Frank Edward 

Lawrence Theodore 
Riley, Archibald Rogers 
Schaffer, Mildred Claire 
Schryver, Henry Brown 
Stoutenburgh, George Rutherford 
Tillou, Edwin Braman 

Julia Ethel 
Ward, Charles Clement 
Wigg, James Albert 




KK iiMoND iii:in5i:i{ I' (.i;sm:i{. 



S. J a m e s (' h u r c h 73 

Bishop Greer used on behalf of the rector, a portion of the 
"Office of Institution of Ministers into Parishes or Churches", 
as it had been the usual custom in Saint James parish to liave 
its clergy "Instituted". 

At eight o'clock Evening Prayer was said in Saint James 
Chapel by the Reverend Frederick Turner Ashton, the rector 
reading the lessons. The Reverend Richmond Herbert Ges- 
ner preached to a very large congregation, llie doors into the 
reading-room being thrown open and a portion of the congre- 
gation seated therein. He closed the service with prayers and 
the Benediction. The hymns used were numbers 491, 391, 
417 and 418. 

After the service the congregation passed out through the 
reading-room in order to greet their former rector and other 
friends. Thus closed a very happy celebration of the hundred 
years passed, filled with hallowed memories, and with sjiiritual 
joy and stimulus for days to come. 

It had been made the occasion for certain gifts to the parish, 
to wit; 

Sedilia of black walnut, to which is attached a plate bearing 
the following inscription: 

"1811—1911" 

Made from a tree grown on the Germond place; the gift 
of James Roosevelt Roosevelt, commemorative of the Cente- 
nary Anniversary of the Consecration of the First Parish 
Church." 

Eucharistic Candlesticks, bearing the inscription; "Cen- 
tennial St. James Church, Hyde Park-on-Hudson, Octo- 
ber 12, 1911, presented by Louisa Matilda Gerry in loving 
memory of her late father, Robert James Livingston. Eter- 
nal rest grant him O Lord, and let light perpetual sliiiie u|)on 
him". 

And of white altar hangings from Mrs. Frederick W. \an- 
derbilt. 




— -^ cS 



<u <n 






^-' c ** 



u 



■3 01 




- I 






8 tej 


icli 


9 




6 




14 




12 




IG 




16 




16 




17 




U 




15 





41 scholars 


66 




20 




85 




51 




113 




lOG 




119 





S. J a 771 e s C h u r c h 75 

APPENDIX 

The Sunday School records cover the years 1823 to 1833 only, pre- 
senting the following figures: 
1823 
1824 
1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 

As the names of that period are of interest to many the list of teachers 
and scholars is herewith given in alphabetical order without specifying 
the years during which each one served. 

TEACHERS 

(A young man learning a 
trade, who changed his plan 
of life, and entered the 
ministry. 

f First wife of Jared Sparks, the his- 
AUcn, *r ranees j torian and essayist, who left a 
1 daughter, who died young. 

♦John 

♦Sons and daughters of William and *Julia ( ^ n^^'^-r^JSon ^''- ^''"- "• Channing. 
Maria (Verplanck) both of John- " I d. Dec. 7, 1889. 

ston descent. Mary 

♦William 

Bard, *Ann Married Edward Prime. 

♦Daughters of Wm. and Catharine*Caroline Died unmarried. 1883. 

(Cruger). *Eliza Married Rufus King Delafield. 

*Susan Married Ferdinand Sands. 

Daughter of Dr. Samuel Bard, who made q ■» r 

her home after her parents death with oUSan Mary 
her cousin, Judge Pendleton. 



f Son of Cyrus B. and Mary 
(Fenno) Braman. mcrcli;i:;t in 
New York. b. 1815. d. 1876 



Braman, William j (Fenno) Braman. mcrch 



/■" li;., . M..-,- VI.'onK^nfU / Married William Brown. 

LoUiiis, iMar,\ r.,lisaDetn | j^jgy^jj ^g5j_ 
Montgomery 

Sons and daughter of Squire Patrick B. i He ^^.as many years 

-.1 I „ .. \ i>.,„„,. \r,,r»,.„„,,„K I one of the leaders in 

lcrr\ McUonoUgh ) the Pacific R.R.enter- 



and Catharine (de Cantillon). 



pnse. 



76 Historical Notes of 

Congdon, Mary Married Isaac L. Carpenter. 

[ Daughter of Henry A. 

I and Magdalena Coster. 

»T„ r-^^t^. 1 *t,„. ~ m. Peter Augustus Schem- 

"ag?'S,.5"Hrcr-- Coster. Adeline EmHy j .ho„__ Ag.„.g™ceg. 

N. Y., is erected to her 
, memory. 

Dyer, Catharine Married Rev. Cornish. 

Fenno, Mary 

G,'KKo ColNr / Daughter of Uriah and Lucy (Townsend) 
IDDS, oauy \ Gibbs. Married James Russell. 



Hale, Augustus 

f Married Dr. Henry D. Paine, of New 
burgh 
1855. 



Eliza j burgh. Later of Albany. b.'l816. d. 



Sons and daughters of Elisha and 

Chloe. Henry Elisha 

Julius 

Hinchman, John Son of William. 

TI^lU^^.^1- "l?^l,„„;»v^ / Retired merchant, of New 
Holbrook, Lphraim \ York, who owned Belfield. 

Holmes, Catharine 

Mary Maid to Susan Mary Bard. 

f Daughter of David by his first wife. 
Hosack, Emily \ Married Dr. John Kearney Rodgers. 
• id. April 12. 1893. 

Hubbell, William S. 
Johnston, David 

FHsnhptli / Married Rev. Samuel 

r.nsaDein ^ Roosevelt Johnson. 

Euphemia Died unmarried. 
John Became a sea captain. 

^°SusM'^(Bar'd?*^'' °^ ^""^^^ -^"^^ ^""^ Magdalena m. Wm. M. Jenner. 

Mary E. Died unmarried. 

Samuel Bard 

Daughters of Josiahand Mar- j -,-,,. 

garet who owned the prop- -Lawrence, Jiiliza 

^ cSeYnow "t'inds"- •^'"" Euphemia Married Wm. B. Cutwater. 

Lent, Catharine 




THK Oil) FHAMK ( II AIM'.L. srAATSBl |{(ill. 

C'DllVrrlfd itlti' l{r;i(liriL' Itnnlii. 



S. J a m c s Ch u r ch 77 

Levins, Stephen 
McClellaml. Thomas { f^^ p'on^iuTafnter'" ''"'^^ 

OL -ii T» 1 ^ ^" °^ ^'"- H"nt'"K and Margaret 
bherrill, Kush \ (Mulford). Later a merchant in New 
I York. 

Smith, JuHa Married Jacob W. N'elson. 
Daughters of Stephen Smith. L^j^^ M^^rried Samuel Shutz. 

1 Married her cousin, 
Ma^hTfimt-he; 
83d year. 

Williams, Ebenezer 

Son of William Prince Williams. Walter 

SCHOLARS 

Allen, Ann 
John 
Margaret 
Mary 
Raehael 
Robert 

Ames, Lydia 

Anderson, William 

Atkins, Abram R. 

Bacchus, Charlotte Electra 

Badgeley, Alethea 
Cornelia 

Baker, Emmeline 
Sarah 

Banker, Ellen 
Daughters of William. Sarah C. 

Bard, Eliza 

Jdlm 
Sons and daughters of William. ^Iar\' 

Susan 
William Ilciiry ( Pj|f. =»^ S''"'" *^™'- ^p^' 



78 Historical Notes of 

Barnes, Cornelia Jane 
Hester Maria 

Bates, Martha 

Bayley Betsey Ann 
Catharine 
PhiHp 

Beach, CaroUne 
Charles 

Probably daughters of Beardsley, Cornelia Jane 

Elisha, a wheelwright. Diana 

Besimere Ezekiel Guernsey 
Milton 
William 

Bills, Catharine 

Bird, John W. 

Loran Grant 
Sally Ann 

Blake, John Hinchman 

Probably daughter and son of BogarduS, Caroline 
Philip, who managed a hotel ° „ 

where the post office now is. <jeorge 

T> „ r" ti, _:„„ / 2d wife of Wm Elsworth. d 

Braman, Catharine [ iggo. aged 81. 

Daughters and son of Cyrus. Phoebe 

William 
Broadhead, Mrs. 

Bush, Commodore Decatur 
Commodore Perrv 

Children of Henry B. *Emma { S^-eh^g^f; ^- ^^'^- ^"''"'''^ '° 

*Twins. Margaret 

*Mary rn- Chas. spoor, of Michigan. 

Robert 
Sarah 

Butler, Ann Eliza 
Jane 
Mary 

Cable, Eliza 




\ii;i{i(H{ OF - M\i!(.\Ki;r- < iii ij< ii. -rwr-m i{(..i 



S. J a tn e s Church 79 

Carman, Joel B. 

Theodore 
Carter, Anna M. 

Hiram 

Josiali 

Marshall 

WilHam 

Case, Catharine 
Casey, Eh'za Ann 
Chew, Butler 
Churchill, Anna Maria 



Possibly sisters. If so Ann was a favorite t^..„ a 

family name. Ja"^ Ann 



Sarah Ann 



m. Dakin. When a 

widow "Mrs. Dakin" was 
the most fashionable milliner 
in Poughkeepsie, on Liberty 
St. Her father was a miller, 
the mill being below the last 
dam on Crum Elbow creek. 

Clarke, Ann 
Eliza 
Mary 

Collins, Jacobus Son of Patrick B. 

James 

Montgomery 
Perry McDonough 

Congdon, Alvah 
Jane 
Mary 

Connover, Harriet 

Conklin, Elizabeth 

Copeman, Margaret Ann 

Cox, Cyrus 

Margaret 

Daughter of Stephen and Esther \r„.;i-lo / m. John H. Miller. Removed to Sara- 

(Holbrook). Matilda \ toga Co. 

Susan 
Craft, Eliza 
Crocker, George 



80 Historical N otes of 

Crofoot, Cordelia Ann 

Stephen Edward 

Cronkhite, John 

Rensellaer 
Smith 

Niece of Mrs. Wm. Bard. Cruger, Henrietta 

Culver, Abram Alonzo 
Catharine 
Nathaniel Green 
William A. 

Cummings, Tobias 

Davis, Eliza 

Julianna 

Dayton, George 

DeBoise, Frank 

DeCantillon, John 

Richard d. 1888 at Nyack, aged 78. 

Mary 

DeGroff, Betsey 

Jane Ann 
Margaret Sr. 
Margaret Jr. 
Polly 

Delamater, Belden 

Catharine Louise 

Son and daughters of Benjamin. Perry 

Susan Caroline 

Daughters of Matthew. Denyke, Delia ( '^tylel^'' ^"""^^ ''"' ""''''' ^■ 

Eliza 

Devoe, Ann Daughter of David. 

Augustus 

Caroline Daughter of David. 

Catharine Ann 
Charles Son of David. 
Cornelius 





1 «t 


...,Uj 


...,li,.iiil.llllllillJ.ilH.LLUI.LlLUlHlAtlUUL«-lLUl».l' 'i' 


'■''.■... 1 


^^B^'^^^Mjil iiii'iii 1 





Till-; l.^( II (.ATI-:. |{KAI)I\(. IJOOM. 
Siiiiil Jjimcs ('li;i|)cl. 



//^Md 






91 


' ■ -.1 




\ » _______ 



i\ii:in()i{ oi' >\iN r .i ami:^ ( ii \im;i,. 



S. James Church 81 

Dickinson, Mary 

Dohbs, Benjamin Burroughs See p. 58 
David E. 
John Henry Tailor in Poughkeepsie. 

Donaldson, EHza Ann 
Downing, Magdalena 

Edwards, Clarissa Married B. B. Dobbs. 
George Progue 
Henry D. 
JuUa Content 

Lvdia 

T»' I i T-u A ^ I Made a fortune In 

Robert Iheodore \ California. 

Ellison, Jane 

Martha 
William Dewall 



Grandson of Cyrus Braman. Ellsworth, Cyrus 

Filkins, George 

William Henry 

Daughterof John, who kept Porman, Marv Augusta 

hotel. 



Fowler, Sarah Jane m. Rev. Lewis Lansing, Baptist. 
Freeman, Tobias 

Furman, Abigail 
Phoebe 

Gallagher, Catharine 

Garrison Adelaide 

Charles Henry 

Christina 

TV- f m. Harry Anthony, sexton of S. 

Diana [ james. 

Henrietta 

Jane Ann 

Glautun. Braccliy 
Bridget 
Maria 



82 Historical Notes of 

Godkin, Washington 
Golden, Jane H. 

Son of shipbuilder at mouth C^^A^:^]-, Cr.»v,,.^l 

of Crum Elbow Creek. Goodrich, bamuel 

Green, Christina 
Flora 
Sarah 
Susan Mary 



"GrifFen GriSen" was long sex- 
ton of the Dutch Reformed 
Church. He was several times 
married. These are his children: 



Daughter of Wm. 



Son of John R. and grandson 



Griffen, Allan 
David 
Elizabeth 
Emma 
Hiram 
Jamima 
Jane 
Phylissa 
Susan Mary 

Hadley, Jane 

Hannah 
Sally Ann 

Hale, Augustin 
Eliza 

Harper, Jeremiah E. 
William 

Harrison, Jane Ann 

Hendrickson, William 

Hewett, Mary 

Hinchman, Mary Ann m. Gilbert Brewster. 

Holmes, Catharine 
Mary 



Dn 01 jonn K.ana granason TT,,„u„g AntTinnv R 

of Capt. Christopher (1st), -nugnes, Antnony a. 

Hutchins, Caroline 
Maria 

®°Capt. Lemuel". ^^'"^'°" °^ Hyde, James L. d. 1836, aged 29. 



S. J a m c .V Church 8S 

Jaracks, Jolin W. 
Mary 
Sarah Ann 
AVilliam Henry 

Jackson, Ahrani 

Ei)tiraini 
Hannah Maria 
Jacob 



Jenkins, *Charles 

*Children of Richard and Nancy. *Griffin 

*Henry 
*Mary 

Nancy Wife of Richard. 

Richard Sr. Sexton. 
*Ilichard Jr. 

Johnson, Cornelia 
Henrietta 
Louise 

Son of Rev. Samuel R. Peter RoosCVelt 

Susan Mary 

Johnston, David 

Sons of Judge John. William Bard. { fgy^'^ agS?^' 

^''jud1ejohn!''^^"'"'^"'^'^'^"'^'°"°^ John WiUiamson 

Jones, Elisha C. 
Eliza 
Elizabeth 
George W. 
Isabelle 
Jacob 
James H. 
Jane 
Son of James M., hotelkeeper. John B. 

Margaret 
Marian 
Mary 
Nancey 
Rachael 
Smith 

Katon, Isaac 
Tobia.s 

Keefer, John H. 



^4 Historical N ot e s of 

Kipp, Jane Eliza 

Kramer, George D. 

Lane, Angelina 
Sally 

Lattimore, Ellen 

f m. Samuel Knox. b. 1817. d. 
(Latimer?) Emeline \ 1859. Prominent in Christ 
[ Church, Poughkeepsie. 
Daughters of Jehial and Abigail. Jane Ann 

Children of Josiah. Lawrence, Edgar 

Euphemia 

Lent, Catharine 

Levins, Stephen 

Lewis, Charles C. 

Lynch, Phoebe 

Mansfield, Hannah 

Marshall, Bartlett 
Julia Ann 
Maria 

Martin, Benjamin 

Children of Prime or Primus Martin. Eliza 

Marv Ann 
Sally 
Sarah Ann 

Montgomery Frank 

McAuley, Mary Ann 

McCurdy, Daniel 
Hiram 
John 

McNamy, Mary E. 

Daughter of Rev. John. McVickar, Fanny m. George Kneeland. 

Nplson FliVa / '"• Chas. D. Jacobs, 1829. Lived at 
i-NeiSOU, r^uza | Saugerties. 

Probably children of George. Samuel 

f Long bookkeeper for the old 

_,, , • I shipping house of N. L. Mc- 

TheophlluS Cready & Co., N. Y. d. in 

Brooklyn, June 21, 1875, aged 

62. 




s 

< 
Si 



S. James C It u r c h 85^ 

Odell, Elizabeth 

Ogden, Andrew 

Oliver, Isaac 

Ormuch, Margaret 

Parker, Eliza Belinda m. Augustus Beadle. 
Helen Maria m. A. D. Lent. 
John d. 1892. 

Mary Cordelia { "^^^f^"' ^*"^- *=• ^'PP*°- 
Thonias E. 

Parsons, Catharine Maria 
Paulding, Alfred D. 



Daughter of Nathaniel Greene 

and granddaughter of Judge Pendleton, Susan L. 
Nathaniel M. Bowles. 

Philips, Abigail 
Asa M. 

Daughter of Andrew. Eliza 

Ezra 
Henry 

Son of Andrew. John Y. 

Progue, George 
Henry 

Purely, Alexander 



Quackenl)ti.sh, Artemas { Ji^[^^°" '°' J"^«" P""" 
Lucy 

Rapilyea, Maria 

Ray, Edward 

Relyea, Ruby 

Riddles, Frederick 
Jane 
Peter 
Phyli.s.sa 

Ring, Charles 

Rolinian, Alphonso G. 



SQ Historical Azotes of 

Rose, Highland 
Lucinda 
Philip Oscar 



■Roiimjiffp Tniii'an / Her father established a silk mill 
JXOUmage, l^OUlsa \ ^^ q^^ Elbow Creek. 

T» 1 1 T-> m 1 1 1 f ™' ^''rgil Angevine, 

Rowland, Frances Teleboshe \ long postmaster at 

i Hyde Park. 

€ons and daughter of John Rj'mph, George 
and Lavinia. t i 

John 

Rachael 

William 

Salters, Betsey 

Sarles, Mary Elizabeth 

Schaeffer, Mary Ann C. 

Schryver, Hannah 

Seaman, Nelson 
Sarah 

Daughter of Capt. John. Selkrigg, Emily { ^°Sc°/j.'H:vi{and: ''''^"" "^ 

Shaw, Sukey 

Son of Mrs. U. Sherriger, Edmund { ^oultj"''' ""'^'^ °"'^^"^ '" '^' 

Daughter of John Myers. Mrs. Ursida (Meyers) 

Sherrill, Maria 

Sons and daughter of Dr. Hunting. Mary 

Piatt d. in N. Y., March 18, 1893, aged 73. 

Rush 

^^Sotiraf ttlaS'"'"' Sherwood, Edgar 

Cyrus 

Lavina Ann 
Lorenzo 

Shepherd, Frances Sophia 

Cl„^l- T««^U / Probably Jacob T. Sleight, who died in 
OiaCK, JaCOD j n_ y.. March 26, 1893, aged 83. 

Sleight, Caleb 

Jane Ann 
Mary 

Slowder, Alfred 



S. J a 7» e .V C It u re h 87 

Sniitli, Agiu'S 

Annie C. 
Hannah 
Daughter of Levi. Olive 

Samuel L. 

(m. Rev. Mr. Benton, missionary 
to Greece, afterwards of Rock- 
fish. N. C. 
Daughter and sons of Capt. Reuben and -p • _. 
Mary (Eames) she being daughter of ilitlwin 
Capt. Jesse Eames, a soldier of the IJonrv 
Revolution. nenry 

JesseAmes{^t^-ie^X;J;A.S..D.D..of 

Reuben 
Stiles, William H. 

Stoutenhurgh, Anna { Tgef 25.''' ^'"'^''' ''^ ^^^^' 
^Tulftolf)"^^^"' °^ ^'"' ^" ''''^ ^'^''' Thomas DeWitt d. 1855. aged 36. 

Teller, Ann Eliza 
Probably all children of Theodorus, of r^„„,j;„„ 
"Teller's HiU." Carohne 

Jamima 

William 

Thompson, Christina 

Traver, Abram 
Caroline 
Lansing 
Lydia 
Margaret 
Robert 
William 

Travis, Abram 

Susan Ann 
William 

Tut tie, Aaron 
Ada 

Amaziah 
Betsey Ann 
James Francis 
Sarah J. 
William S. 



Van Antwerp, John 

^'a^ Waggener, Maria 
Tattv 



88 Historical Notes of S. James Church 

Vickar, Martin Probably Wicker 

Wall, Jane Amanda 

Weaver, John 

Weed, Pendleton Became a Methodist minister. 

Westfall, Catharine 
Edwin 
Harvey 
Lucinda 

Whitcomb, Lucinda 

White, Ann 

James Henry 

Wiest, Hiram 

Wigg, Daniel Blacksmith. 

Williams, George (Staatsburg) 
George (Hyde Park) 
Son of Wm. P. Henry Walter 

James 
Marian 
Mary Ann 
Susan 
Williams 

Wood, Richard 

Wooden, Barbara 

Woolheiser, Henry 

Wright, Hannah 
, , Elizabeth 

Children of James L. and Frances t tt 

(Hyde). James Harvey 

John Vail 
Martha 
Mary 



.-;^? 






i- .. ■#.«.:•' 






■^ '^ * ^ 



^•I^F 



fiT 



"#.■.: f- 



*' ■«> 



>»1* lt^ n- 



* 1^ 






t": .^^. 



■^' #■• 






i :# 



■I \ 



,* .:^ ,^; 



i 't' ^^ 



'M It- # 



% % 



f 'f: ii.' :f!i %• -m -il- t^ 

'^ v^ '.It: #. i^' *:• ^ I 
I 'if ■« #■• iv: ;*• m^ t^ 
-i '# ^t- .#■ #^ -fc -IIV^* 

■ > ■# '^l^ 't- # t;^ *'^ 

•^- ■■- '>»; -^v ir.;.:^- -^ 

,.> 'i^- 'it'- 'm- 'C :# 
^ '^^ 'ir % t' -:* 1^ l 



€ M 



'^ # .f #; 

t- M ^ ■•* i' ^'^' 






I *,. 













^^i^_ ^.^-^ 








^^B ^^1 ^^1 


^ ^ ^m 










■ ■■■ 








^^^^^* ^^^^^H 






■ ■ 










^^^ 








^^^^^M ^^^^^M 1 


1 


^^H ^^H ^^B 


B^^B ^^^^H ^^^^1 


1 1 


^^^ 


■ 


■ 




■ ■■ 




r 




^ ■■ ■ 1 


1 


^^ 


m n 


■ 








I 








,„_^,_. ...:^.^._,., -. 








■■%■ *^|^ ■* .'^^ 



■^' %■ •# ;■'"■ 
t I* #. ■«■ I 






^ .« /■# .« .1: ■#. 1^. *^ i .# # # « t •# % .#^.* 

r''i '.t'-'t '■^"'1 '•^- ''^ :^ ^^' # "^ ^ ■"^\* ^- --^ :* 

■# ^g. "f -4 vW '¥ 'it' •# ^ W ^' ^:f^ '^^^ ^ ^ ^ /^^ ^^ 

■ '^ -^ -^''^ ■¥ ':# "^ ^^ W # ^- # « f -i '1^ .^- ■•' 

i^: 'f # '^ -^ ■% ■# ■€ -^ M 4 -^ # ^^ 4 '^ # ^^^ 

:•■ f. ^'t ^^ 'i^ ^ '^ '^ 't M ■■^'■■^ 'M # t' ^^ # ,f 
• *"^«^: ^M 4 'Mi 't ^ '^* ^ t «^ •% ^t^ < ■■# >»• 
, . ^sr 'j*^ -f ■* 't fi ■# ■{# :# #. 1^ 1^ ■^j ¥f^ * ■'' 
■■•st"'ir -^^ ■«: '%• -♦; ■<*• '* -^^ % :^> * ^^^ .w . 

~,#^'# "^^ ^^if- ''W'jr ijt' ^ ':i<^' ^* '* ^ "^ ■^'^ "^^ - 

i ■«: * '^i^ .i'^i: "^ vg ''^^ -^^if ^* ■^ ^ -^ ■■: '" '"^ 

•f- 4 •"If ''^ ■■# '^.'^: '"4: "» # ■# % m ^- . 

I i$^^$ "# ;'#"'.*€■ ^ ii '-^ ^vfv ■# i, # H. ^)# H:. # ^^^ 



.,^'4*. '^fl^s ^ '^' ■ria^-.",ifi^ as; 43 ■./*■ M M: M. '-^ 



